Comprehensive Recreation, Park and Open Space Plan

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FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH Comprehensive Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan

September 2015

Acknowledgements Community Input Franklin Park Borough would like to offer special thanks to those residents, property owners, and stakeholders of the community who attended meetings and provided valuable comments and insight throughout the planning process.

Borough Council Amy Sable, President Jane Hopey, Vice President Laura Coombs, Second Vice President

Jim Hogg Jim Lawrence John Parks

Mayor

Dennis O’Keefe Borough Manager Ambrose Rocca Recreation Board Betty Gail Dietz Christine Huweart

Lori Merriman Chad Peterson

Comprehensive Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan Steering Committee Arleen Abbs Matt Cooper Janet Demma Joe Grennan Jane Hopey

Jim Lawrence Conner Poisker Maureen Poisker Ashwin Reddy Bill Schweitzer

Planning Consultant James J. Watenpool

Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 Executive Summary ………………………………………………………… 1.1 CHAPTER 2 - Background Information Community Background ....................................................... 2.1 Socio-Economic Features ……………… ..................................... 2.3 Physical Data ………….............................................................. 2.9 Review of the Park System … ...... ………………………………… 2.13 Agency Mission Statement and Goals…………… ................... 2.16 CHAPTER 3 - Public Participation Study Committee Meetings…………………………………… ............ 3.1 Stakeholder Interviews………………………………………………… .... 3.1 Resource Interviews………………………………………………… ....... 3.1 Teen Survey………………………………………………………………… ...... 3.2 Parks & Recreation Survey………………………………………………… 3.2 Public Meetings…………….……………………………………………….. ... 3.2 CHAPTER 4 – Administration Borough Administration………………………………………………....... 4.1 Community Relationships & Regional Initiatives……… .......... 4.2 Public Relations & Marketing………… ..................................... 4.2 Municipal- School Initiatives…………………………………… ........... 4.4 Cooperative Efforts……………………………………………………........ 4.4 Policies & Procedures………………………………………………… ........ 4.6 Record Keeping Procedures……………………………………… ......... 4.8 Public Involvement………………………………………………………… ... 4.9 CHAPTER 5 – Borough Personnel Organizational Chart ………………………………………………………. .. 5.1 Parks and Recreational Personnel……………………………… ........ 5.1 Volunteers…………………………………………………………………. ....... 5.2 Other Potential Staffing Opportunities…………………… ........... 5.4 Personnel Policies…………………………………………………… ........... 5.6 Staffing Needs…………………………………………………………… ........ 5.6 Organizational Chart………………………………………………… ......... 5.8

CHAPTER 6 – Facility and Open Space Inventory & Analysis Existing Conditions………………………………………………………....... 6.1 Facility & Open Space Analysis………………………………………..... 6.2 Comparison with NRPA Guidelines…………………………… ......... 6.5 Park Inventory Overview……………………………………… .............. 6.8 CHAPTER 7 - Facilities and Equipment Maintenance Existing Conditions………………………………………………………… .... 7.1 Facility and Equipment Maintenance………………………… ........ 7.1 Record Keeping……………………………………………………………. ..... 7.1 Maintenance Program Analysis…………………………… .............. 7.2 Risk Management…………………………………………………… ........... 7.3 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)……………………… .......... 7.5 CHAPTER 8 – Financial Analysis Tax Support Comparison…………………………………………… ........ 8.1 Budgeting Process……………………………………………………… ....... 8.5 Funding Sources………………………………………………………… ........ 8.6 Mandatory Dedication……………………………………………… ......... 8.8 CHAPTER 9 - Recreation Programs Analysis Recreation Programs………………………………………………… ......... 9.1 Recreation Resources………………………………………………… ........ 9.1 Stakeholder Interview Summaries……………………………… ....... 9.3 Sports Organizations Summaries……………………………… ......... 9.9 Borough Programs & Participation Trends……………… ......... 9.13 Analysis & Deficiencies……………………………………… ............... 9.18 Program Operation Manual………………………………… ............. 9.21 CHAPTER 10 – Goals & Objectives Overview…………..……………………………………………………….. ..... 10.1 Recommendations ……………………………………………… ............ 10.2 APPENDICIES Appendix A Acorn Park Matrix……………………………………………… ............... A.1 Alpine Nature Preserve Matrix………………………………… ......... A.3 Blueberry Hill Park Matrix……………………………………………...... A.4 Linbrook Park Matrix…………………………………………………. ..... A.14 Mel Lubert Nature Preserve Matrix………………………........... A.20 Old Orchard Park Matrix…………………………………………......... A.21 Appendix B Grants…………………………………………………………… .....................B.1 Foundations……………………………………………………… .................B.6 Other Funding Sources…………………………………………… ...........B.9

Figures Figure 1- Comprehensive Plan, Project Location Figure 2 - Floodplains – Wetlands Figure 3 - Steep Slopes – Prime Agricultural Soil Figure 4 - Land Use Plan Figure 5 - Open Space & Recreation Plan Figure 6 - Regional Facilities Map Figure 7 - Pedestrian – Bicycle Route Plan

CHAPTER 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Chapter 1 Executive Summary Comprehensive Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan Franklin Park Borough is a rapidly growing community located northwest of Pittsburgh in the North Hills region of Allegheny County. The municipality is surrounded by Marshall, Pine, McCandless, Ohio and Ross Townships and the Boroughs of Sewickley Hills and Bell Acres in Allegheny County and Economy Borough in Beaver County. Franklin Park contains 13.5 square miles of land area and according to the 2010 US Census had a population of 13,470. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) Long Range Forecast of Population, Households, and Employment shows that Franklin Park is expected to have a population of 17,707 persons in 2025. Interstate 79 and I-279 provide good access for borough residents to travel to regional shopping centers, universities, hospitals, and cultural and recreational facilities. Interstate 279 provides a direct link with the City of Pittsburgh and is a contributing factor to the growth of the Borough. As evidenced by the Borough’s increasing population and housing units, over the years Franklin Park has become a desirable place to live and play. To help maintain the Borough’s desirability, Franklin Park is updating its Comprehensive Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan. The plan provides vital information that will guide the Borough in the area of parks and recreation for the next ten years. To ensure that the recreational needs and desires of Borough residents were heard, a significant public input process was conducted. The cornerstone in this process was the park and recreation survey that was sent to Borough residents. The recommendations developed for this plan are based on the identified recreation needs from the survey, and from information gathered through two public meetings, stakeholder interviews, resource interviews, and a teen survey. A study committee was established to discuss findings and provide guidance through the plan development. In addition to the public input, information was acquired about the natural, physical, and cultural character, as well as the socio-economic composition of the Borough. The information gathered from these sources provided the necessary tools to establish goals and develop recommendations regarding Franklin Park Borough’s park and recreation administration, facilities, and programs. Following is a list of the goals that were developed throughout the process. 

Goal #1 –



Goal #2 –



Goal #3 –



Goal #4 –

Develop first class Facilities that will meet the needs of all users, while ensuring a high standard of maintenance, cleanliness, safety, and aesthetically pleasing areas and facilities within the Borough parks. Develop Programs that meet the needs, interests, and desires of all of the residents of the borough. Promote the borough’s facilities and recreational programs utilizing the most effective forms of Publicity for the potential audience. Employ the Staff required to successfully develop, implement, and maintain the borough’s recreational facilities and programs.

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Goal #5 –



Goal #6 –



Goal #7 –

Ensure the long term Financial health of parks and recreation in the Borough by utilizing a variety of methods to fund new and existing programs and facilities. Develop strong Partnerships in an effort to enhance parks and recreational opportunities for borough residents. Promote Conservation and Preservation of valuable open space within the Borough.

The following is a summary of some of the high priority recommendations that were identified throughout the process and reflect the overall goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan. These, along with the other plan recommendations, are the action items that the Borough will work toward as part of the implementation of the plan.  

          

Complete the development of Old Orchard Park, i.e. pavilion, restroom, playground, sand volleyball, and parking. Improve current facilities in Blueberry Hill Park, such as, upgrade the Blueberry Patch, expand the Activity Center kitchen, construct new restrooms at the baseball fields, improve the football field announcer’s booth & storage, update the football field restrooms, construct another sand volleyball court, develop a dog park, and improve the existing trails. Complete the development of Linbrook Park, i.e. update the existing shelters, construct a new shelter where the house was located, improve the existing trails, construct restroom facilities, and provide water, sewage, and electric in the park. Upgrade existing facilities at Acorn Park, such as, improve the dek hockey court, improve the existing trails, and improve parking. Ensure that all borough facilities are ADA compliant. Add new facilities within the park system to accommodate the recreational needs that are not currently being met. Construct facilities with the objective of reducing future maintenance cost. Invest in new equipment and technology as a means of becoming more efficient. Work with the recreation associations to improve field conditions. Develop new recreation programs for those groups whose needs are not currently being met. Develop a more diversified recreation program schedule. Enhance existing partnerships and develop new partnerships that will strengthen the provision of recreation programs for borough residents. Utilize a variety of forms of publicity to improve communication with borough residents concerning park facilities and recreation program opportunities.

As noted above, this plan has a lifespan of ten years. At that time the Borough should examine the plan for the applicability of its recommendations and consider the need to update the plan. This will ensure that the recreational needs of the community are being met in a responsive way to the ever changing trends and needs of the residents, and provide up to date data when applying for grants. Additionally, it is important to recognize this document not as a rigid framework of recommendations, but as a guide to assist in the planning of recreational facilities and programs. Thus, borough officials and staff must be open to accommodating and reacting to unforeseen changes and opportunities that may arise during the lifespan of this document.

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CHAPTER 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

CHAPTER 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Community Background Franklin Park Borough is a growing community located northwest of Pittsburgh in the North Hills of Allegheny County. It is surrounded by Marshall, Pine, McCandless, Ohio and Ross Townships, and Sewickley Hills and Bell Acres Boroughs in Allegheny County and Economy Borough in Beaver County. Franklin Park is made up of 13.5 square miles of land area and according to the 2010 Census has a population of 13,470 persons. The 2015 population is estimated to reach 15,000. Interstate 79 and I-279 provide good access for borough residents to travel to regional shopping centers, universities, hospitals, cultural, and recreational facilities. See Figure 1, on the following page. Franklin Park Borough was formed from land once known as the “Depreciation Lands” that included all of the present day North Hills in Allegheny County, and parts of Beaver, Butler, Armstrong, and Lawrence Counties. Pennsylvania Revolutionary War soldiers, paid in script in lieu of cash, were issued certificates intended to adjust for the currency’s declining value. The effect, however, was to deplete Pennsylvania’s treasury. The State Assembly then set aside 720,000 acres of recently purchased lands from the Indian Nations, had them sectioned into tracts, and sold. In 1785, Nathaniel Breading, William Alexander, and Samuel Nicholson surveyed the area of present day Franklin Park and divided the land into tracts of 200-350 acres. The line that divides the Alexander and Nicholson tracts was known as the “Nicholson Line” and is still used as a point of reference for local surveys. In 1788, Allegheny County was formed out of Washington and Westmoreland Counties and the North Hills area became Pitt Township. In 1792, the government allowed individuals to clear unsold portions of the Depreciation Lands. After living on these lands for two years, people wishing to become owners of these properties could purchase the land at the cost of twenty dollars per one hundred acres. Pitt Township was divided into Pine and Deer Townships in 1796, and in 1803, Ohio Township was created out of Pine Township. The steady influx of German, Scottish, and Irish settlers in the following years prompted the apportionment of Franklin Township out of Ohio Township in 1823. Franklin Township began its transformation from a rural farming community to a suburban residential community in the 1920’s when road conditions were improved and the automobile became the preferred mode of travel. Residents could now seek higher paying non-farming jobs in the Pittsburgh region. Others were attracted to the area by its pleasant surroundings and rural setting, resulting in the steady population increases evident to this day. It was then recognized that, in order to have more of an influence over its development and provide a more effective government to Franklin residents, a change in governmental structure was needed. Subsequently, in 1961, Franklin Township formally became Franklin Park Borough.

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Table 1 lists important dates and events in Franklin Park Borough History: Table 1 - Franklin Park Borough Historic Dates and Events DATE EVENT 1785 The Pennsylvania General Assembly bought the land between Pittsburgh and Erie from the Indian Nations. 1788 Allegheny County was formed out of Washington and Westmoreland Counties. The entire North Hills Area became Pitt Township. 1796 Pitt Township was split into the Townships of Pine and Deer. 1803 Ohio Township was created out of Pine Township. 1823 Franklin Township was created out of Ohio Township. 1863 Marshall Township was created out of Franklin Township. 1961 Franklin Township became Franklin Park Borough.

Franklin Park Borough has a Council-Manager form of government. The Council-Manager form of government combines strong political leadership of elected officials in the form of a council with the managerial experience of an appointed local government manager. This form establishes a representative system where all power is concentrated in the elected council and where the council hires a professionally trained manager to oversee the delivery of public services. Council is likewise responsible for setting taxes and authorizing all borough expenditures. Under the Borough Code, the Mayor oversees the police department. The Mayor is also the ceremonial head of the Borough. In case of a tie vote on Council the Mayor casts the deciding vote in most, but not all matters.

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Socio-Economic Features The information used in this Comprehensive Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan is from both the 2000 and 2010 US Census. The 2000 figures were used for comparison characteristics. The Census is a tool used by the federal, state and local governments, and community organizations for determining: the amount of funding that community programs and services receive; which communities need additional schools, public transportation systems, playgrounds, new roads and bridges; and where police and fire departments are located. The Census is also used to determine the number of seats that a state will have in the US House of Representatives. The United States Census is by far the best tool used to determine the social, demographic, and economic conditions in a municipality, region, and state. While some of the census data used in this report is 10 years old, the specific numbers are not as important as the trends these numbers reveal when compared to Census information from 1990 and 2000.

Franklin Park Borough Bell Acres Borough Marshall Township Ohio Township Pine Township Ross Township Sewickley Hills Borough Town of McCandless Allegheny County Pennsylvania

Table 2. Population Trends 1990 – 2010 1990 2000 Population # Change Population # Change % Change 10,109 825 11,364 1,255 12.4% 1,436 141 1,382 -54 -3.8% 4,010 1,416 5,996 1,986 49.5% 2,459 387 3,086 627 25.5% 4,048 140 7,683 3,635 90.0% 33,482 -1,620 32,551 -931 -2.8% 622 191 652 30 4.8% 28.781 2,531 29,022 241 0.8% 1,324,000 -126,147 1,281,666 -42,334 -3.2% 11,881,643 17,748 12,261,054 399,411 3.4%

Population 13,470 1,388 6,915 4,757 11,497 31,105 639 28,457 1,223,348 12,702,379

2010 # Change 2,106 6 925 1,671 3,814 -1,446 -13 -565 -55,381 441,325

% Change 18.5% .4% 15.4% 54.1% 49.6% -4.4% -1.9% -1.9% -4.3% 3.6%

Source: 2010 Census

Franklin Park Borough experienced a constant population growth in each of the last six decades. From 2000 to 2010, the Borough experienced a population increase of 18.5%. The largest increase in population was in Ohio Township with an increase of 54.1% followed by Pine Township with 49.6%. Ross Township, McCandless Township, and Sewickley Hills Borough experienced a decline in population along with Allegheny County’s decline (-4.3%). With the exception of Bell Acres Borough increase of .4%, all of the remaining communities that experienced growth had a significantly higher increase than Pennsylvania’s 3.6% increase. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) provides a “Long Range Forecast” for the nine southwestern Pennsylvania counties that make up the SPC Region. The forecasts include household and population data and work-place employment data for the years 2020, 2025 and 2040. SPC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the nine-county region that includes Allegheny County and its municipalities. The population increase that Franklin Park Borough has experienced during the last six decades is expected to continue according to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) Forecasts. Table 3 shows that Franklin Park Borough, as well as the surrounding communities, are all projected to increase in total population by 2025.

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Franklin Park Borough Bell Acres Borough Marshall Township Ohio Township Pine Township Ross Township Sewickley Hills Borough Town of McCandless

Table 3. Population for the Years 2010 and 2025 2010 Population 2025 Forecast 13,470 17,707 1,388 1,489 6,915 9,055 4,757 5,762 11,497 13,857 31,105 32,488 639 700 28,457 30,614

% Change 2010 - 2025 31.5% 7.3% 30.9% 21.1% 20,5% 4.4% 9.5% 7.8%

Source: 2010 Census

Further investigation reveals that Franklin Park’s population is increasing in all age categories. According to the information presented in Table 4, the 45-64 age group experienced the highest growth of 100.0% between 1990 and 2010, followed by the 65 and over age group with a 94.3% growth, and the 5 to 17 age group at 41.2%. These statistics indicate that Franklin Park Borough is seeing a significant growth in all age groups and that future recreation planning should include facilities and activities all ages. The biggest change in the 10-year periods has occurred in the 45 to 64 age group. From 1990 to 2000, this age group saw the addition of 1,194 residents, and an additional 1,018 between 2000 and 2010. The 20 year increase equals 100.0% and should be monitored over time because of the demands of this age cohort. As they age, the Borough will have to provide more senior recreation programs and facilities.

Under 5 5 to 17 18 to 44 45 to 64 65 and over Total

Table 4. Franklin Park Borough Age Distribution, 1990 – 2010 1990 2000 2010 Population Population # Change % Change Population # Change 811 783 -28 -3.5% 911 173 2,311 2,712 401 17.4% 3,263 551 4,064 3,431 -643 -15.8% 3,455 24 2,174 3,368 1,194 54.9% 4,386 1,018 749 1,070 321 42.9% 1,455 385 10,109 11,364 1,255 12% 13,470 2,106

% Change 22.1% 20.3% .7% 29.7% 36.0% 18.5%

Source: 2010 Census

Table 5 lists the number of males and females in Franklin Park and the surrounding municipalities in 2010. According to the 2010 census, Franklin Park Borough’s population is composed of 50.7% females and 49.3% males, which is very similar to other adjacent municipalities.

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Franklin Park Borough Bell Acres Borough Marshall Township Ohio Township Pine Township Ross township Sewickley Hill Borough Town of McCandless Allegheny County Pennsylvania

Table 5. Gender, 2000 – 2010 2000 2010 Male Female Male Female # % # % # % # % 5,616 49.4% 5,748 50.6% 6,641 49.3% 6,829 50.7% 683 49.6% 699 50.4% 685 49.4% 703 50.6% 3,005 50.1% 2,991 49.9% 3,474 50.2% 3,441 49.8% 1,543 50.0% 1,543 50.0% 2360 49.6% 2397 50.4% 3,765 49.0% 3,918 51.0% 5,762 50.1% 5,735 49.9% 15,169 46.7% 17,382 53.3% 14,607 47.0% 16,498 53.0% 331 50.8% 321 49.2% 312 50.2% 318 49.8% 13,803 47.6% 15,219 52.4% 13,493 47.4% 14,964 52.6% 607,002 47.3% 674,664 52.7% 587,207 48.0% 636,141 52.0% 5,929,663 48.3% 6,351,391 51.7% 6,192,690 48.7% 6,516,330 51.3%

Source: 2010 Census

Table 6 shows the 2010 racial composition of Franklin Park Borough and the other municipalities. Franklin Park Borough has a 13% minority population, which greatly exceeds that of the surrounding community’s average of 5.5% but is lower than Allegheny County 18.6%, and Pennsylvania 16.1%. The census data indicates an 8% increase in the minority population for the Borough from 2000 to 2010. The increase predominately occurred with an influx of Asian residents which was 10.4% in 2010, up from 2.9% in the 2000 census.

Franklin Park Borough Bell Acres Borough Marshall Township Ohio Township Pine Township Ross Township Sewickley Hill Borough Town of McCandless Allegheny County Pennsylvania

White 86.8% 94.2% 95.3% 93.8% 93.1% 94.9% 95.6% 91.9% 81.5% 83.5%

Table 6. Racial Composition, 2010 African American Asian American American Indian 1.2% 10.4% .1% 2.7% 1.3% .07% 1.1% 2.2% 0% 1.8% 3.1% 0% 1.2% 4.0% .1% 2.4% 2.9% .3% 2.3% 1.6% .2% 1.7% 5.0% .1% 13.4% 3.1% .3% 11.4% 2.7% .2%

Other 1.3% 1.8% ,7% .4% .4% .4% .6% .2% 1.8% 1.8%

Minority 13.0% 5.87% 4.0% 5.3% 5.7% 6.0% 4.7% 7.0% 18.6% 16.1%

Source: 2010 Census

The information in Table 7 identifies the various levels of educational attainment and the percentage of residents for each community. According to the 2010 Census, Franklin Park Borough has the third highest education level in comparison to all of the surrounding communities, with 30.7% of the Boroughs overall population having obtained a graduate degree from college. Marshall Township has the highest education level with 33.6% obtaining a graduate degree. Pine Township is second highest with 30.8% obtaining a graduate degree.

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Franklin Park Borough Bell Acres Borough Marshall Township Ohio Township Pine Township Ross Township Sewickley Hills Borough Town of McCandless Allegheny County Pennsylvania Source: 2010 Census

Table 7. Education Attainment 2010 Less than 9th Grade 9 – 12 Grade High School Some College Bachelor’s # % # % # % # % # % 23 .3 116 1.3 1,357 15.4 1,391 15.7 3,239 36.7 19 1.8 38 3.6 281 27.0 230 22.1 238 22.8 41 .9 59 1.3 671 14.8 725 16.0 1,518 33.5 17 .5 58 1.7 835 24.4 541 15.8 1,112 32.5 21 .3 212 3.0 897 12.7 1,088 15.4 2,670 37.8 375 1.6 1,148 4.9 7,075 30.2 5,645 24.1 5,740 24.5 4 .8 21 4.1 137 26.6 102 19.8 104 20.2 205 1.0 410 2.0 4,326 21.1 4,900 23.9 5,986 29.2 17,225 2.0 45,646 5.3 271,292 31.5 206,699 24.0 179,139 20.8 329,037 3.8 684,050 7.9 3,221,100 37.2 2,078,129 24.0 1,437,372 16.6

Graduate # % 2,709 30.7 237 22.7 1,523 33.6 859 25.1 2,175 30.8 3,444 14.7 148 28.7 4,654 22.7 123,158 14.3 900,522 10.4

The United States Census provides statistics on income as well as population. Tables 8, 9, and 10 summarize various income statistics found in the census for Franklin Park and the surrounding municipalities. This information is very helpful in determining if the residents in a municipality can afford to pay for recreational improvements. The income statistics can also be used to support the need for grants at the state and federal levels. Between 1999 and 2009, Franklin Park’s per capita income, median family income, and median household income experienced sizeable increases. Table 8 shows the per capita income levels for Franklin Park and the surrounding municipalities in 1999 and 2009. Dividing the total income by the total population within a municipality derives per capita income. As shown below, this region increased the per capita income level by an average of 39.7% in the 10-year period from 1999 to 2009.

Franklin Park Borough Bell Acres Borough Marshall Township Ohio Township Pine Township Ross Township Sewickley Hills Borough Town of McCandless North Hills Total Allegheny County Pennsylvania

Table 8. Per Capita Income, 1999 - 2009 1999 2009 $37,924 $51,886 $41,202 $55,470 $42,856 $57,672 $32,446 $50,086 $35,202 $61,901 $25,883 $33,793 $38,681 $47,993 $31,792 $40,695 $285,986 $399,496 $22,491 $31,173 $18,816 $28,190

% Change 36.8% 34.6% 34.6% 54.4% 75.8% 16.2% 24.1% 57.3% 39.7% 38.6% 49.8%

Source: 2010 Census

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Between 1999 and 2009, the median family income for the borough increased by 37.7%. This increase was (7.4%) below the average median family income for the region. Ohio Township saw the largest median family income growth with an 86.0% increase. The borough’s median family income is $130,096, while Pine Township has the highest median family income of $154,025. All of the municipalities in the study area have appreciably higher median family incomes than the county $68,968 and the state $65,980. This information can be found in Table 9. It is important to note that family income is defined differently than household income and that these two statistics are not interchangeable. Families can be a subset of households and therefore the earning figures for families may be lower than that of household income.

Franklin Park Borough Bell Acres Borough Marshall Township Ohio Township Pine Township Ross Township Sewickley Hills Borough Town of McCandless Allegheny County Pennsylvania

Table 9. Median Family Income, 1999 - 2009 1999 2009 $94,512 $130,096 $70,288 $87,017 $109,376 $134,926 $71,204 $132,462 $93,201 $154,025 $57,917 $81,511 $92,102 $135,804 $73,482 $100,273 $49,815 $68,968 $49.184 $65,980

% Change 37.7% 23.8% 23.4% 86.0% 65.3% 40.7% 47.4% 36.5% 38.4% 34.1%

Source: 2010 Census

From 1999 to 2009 Franklin Park Borough had a 29.9% increase in median household income, as indicated in Table 10, see next page. This is 6.2% below the average household income when compared to the surrounding municipalities for the ten year period. Pine Township had the highest increase in household income at 67.0% and Ohio Township was second with a 56.2% increase. The average household income increase was 36.1%, ranging from a low of 16.0% for Bell Acres Borough to Pine Township’s high of 67.0%. The growth in median household income for Allegheny County was 32.2% increase, while the state had a 30.3% increase. Most often, household income is a preferred choice when comparing municipalities and regions in terms of income levels.

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Franklin Park Borough Bell Acres Borough Marshall Township Ohio Township Pine Township Ross Township Sewickley Hills Borough Town of McCandless Allegheny County Pennsylvania

Table 10. Median Household Income, 1999 - 2009 1999 2009 $87,627 $113,826 $61,094 $70,833 $102,351 $123,409 $62,578 $97,778 $85,817 $143,287 $46,542 $59,471 $79,466 $113,125 $62,159 $80,154 $38,329 $50,664 $40,106 $52,267

% Change 29.9% 16.0% 20.6% 56.2% 67.0% 27.8% 42.4% 28.9% 32.2% 30.3%

Source: 2010 Census

The statistics presented in Table 11 relate to housing units and tenure (owner occupied or renter occupied). According to the 2010 census, the Borough had 4,904 housing units, of which 4,564 or 93.7% were occupied, and of these occupied units, 4,370 or 95.7%were owner occupied. A higher percentage of home ownership generally shows the stability and well-being of a community. Franklin Park Borough has the highest percentage of owner occupied units when compared to the surrounding communities, as well as being higher than that of Allegheny County and Pennsylvania. The characteristics below are used to determine the quality of the housing stock in each municipality.

Franklin Park Borough Bell Acres Borough Marshall Township Ohio Township Pine Township Ross Township Sewickley Hills Borough Town of McCandless Allegheny county Pennsylvania

Table 11. Housing Tenure, 2010 Total Housing Occupied Units Owner Occupied Units Units # % # % 4,904 4,564 93.1% 4370 95.7% 581 566 97.4% 504 89.0% 2,353 2,114 90.0% 1,927 91.2% 1,987 1,823 91.7% 1,385 76.0% 4,122 3,933 95.4% 3,220 81.9% 14,909 14,125 94.7% 10,552 74.7% 255 240 94.1% 216 90.0% 12,307 11,659 94.7% 8,909 72.4% 589,201 533,960 90.6% 345,393 64.7% 5,563,832 4,959,633 89.1% 3,478,602 70.1%

Renter Occupied Units # % 194 4.3% 62 11.0% 187 8.8% 438 24.0% 713 18.1% 3,573 25.3% 24 10.0% 2,750 22.3% 188,567 35.3% 1,481,031 29.9%

Source: 2010 Census

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Physical Data Franklin Park Borough is located in the Appalachian Plateau Province. A province is defined as a region in which all parts are similar in geologic structure, climate, relief, and has a unified geomorphic history. The Appalachian Province is a northeast-southwest tending highland that occupies large parts of Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, eastern Ohio, and small parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. This highland is underlain by nearly horizontal sedimentary rock beds of the Paleozoic age. In western Pennsylvania, typical summit elevations range from 1,800 to 2,000 feet above sea level. In some regions, the surfaces of the plateaus have been deeply eroded by streams to produce mountainous areas. Bedrock The rock underlying Franklin Park Borough was formed in the Pennsylvanian Period of the Paleozoic Era, 360 million years ago. There are two rock groups that comprise Franklin Park Borough: 1. Casselman Formation – Cyclic sequences of shale, siltstone, sandstone, redbeds, thin impure limestone, and non-persistent coal; red beds are associated with landslides; base is at the top of Ames limestone. 2. Glenshaw Formation – Cyclic formations of shale, sandstone, red beds, and thin limestone and coal; includes four marine limestone or shale horizons; red beds are involved in landslides; base is at the top of Upper Freeport coal. Soil Characteristics Soil is produced through the interaction of five natural forces: climate, plant and animal life, parent material, relief, and time. The degree and influence of each of these factors differs from place to place and influences the characteristics of the soil. Table 12 describes the soil associations found in Franklin Park Borough. Table 12 - Franklin Park Borough General Soil Associations Soil Associations Gilpin-Upshur-Atkins

Gilpin-Wharton-Upshur

Characteristics Moderately deep and deep, well drained soils underlain by red and gray shale on uplands and deep, poorly drained soils on floodplains. Moderately deep and deep, well drained and moderately well drained soils underlain by red and gray shale on uplands.

Source: Soil Survey of Allegheny County

There are several features that can deter or enhance development opportunities. These features commonly include wetlands, flood plains, steep slopes, landslide prone areas, and mined lands. Another category to be aware of is Prime Agricultural Soils. While Prime Agricultural soils are not a development constraint, they are unique and should be preserved when possible. The following definitions will help clarify what is meant by each of the above.

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Wetlands: Wetlands are defined as an area that under normal conditions contains a prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and is inundated within 18 inches of the surface of the ground for seven consecutive days during the growing season. See Figure 2, Floodplains – Wetlands, on prior page. Flood Plains: Flood plains are usually discussed in terms of the one hundred-year flood plain. The one-hundred-year flood plain is the maximum level that a watercourse should crest following a one-hundred-year storm. A one-hundred-year storm is generally equal to six inches of rain in a twenty-four hour period. See Figure 2, Floodplains – Wetlands, on prior page. Slopes: Slope is expressed as the degree to which the terrain of an area rises and falls. Slope is determined by taking the rise (change in elevation) over the run (distance) and is expressed as a percentage. Prime Farmland: Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, fiber, forage, oil seed, and other agricultural crops with minimum inputs of fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, and labor and without intolerable soil erosion, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. It includes land that possesses the above characteristics, but is being currently used to produce livestock and timber. It does not include land that is already in or committed to urban development or storage. Both of the soil associations that are found in Franklin Park Borough, GilpinUpshur-Atkins and Gilpin-Wharton-Upshur are considered Prime Agricultural Soils. Figure 3, on the next page, illustrates the areas of the Borough where prime agricultural soils and steep slopes are located. Areas of steep slopes are concentrated in the northeastern, south-central, and northwestern portion of the Borough. There are many areas of prime agricultural soils throughout the Borough. The majority of these areas are located where there has been significant development. The hills and valleys of Franklin Park Borough have been formed by the flow of water through streams making their way to the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers. There are three types of streams that flow through the Borough: Trout Stocked Fishery, (TSF), Cold Water Fishery (CWF), and High Quality Water (HQ). Trout stocked fisheries are maintained for the propagation of fish species and additional flora and fauna which are indigenous to warm water habitats. Trout may be stocked from February 15 to July 31. Cold-water fisheries are established for the maintenance and/or propagation of fish species, including the family Salmonidae and additional flora and fauna that are indigenous to a cold-water habitat. High quality water is a stream or a watershed that has excellent quality waters and environmental or other features that require special water quality protection. Table 13 identifies each of the streams in Franklin Park Borough and their related features.

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Table 13 - Franklin Park Borough Streams Tributary To Name Ohio River Bear Run Big Sewickley Creek East Branch of Big Sewickley Creek Kilbuck Run Little Sewickley Creek Lowries Run Rippling Run Allegheny Fish Run River Pine Creek

DEP Classification TSF TSF TSF

Length in Borough 9,105.56 ft. 6,024.74 ft. 8,399.10 ft.

CWF HQ-TSF TSF TSF CWF

3,233.67 ft. 4,574.22 ft. 2,398.73 ft. 11,832.58 ft. 12,830.72 ft.

CWF

8,759.89 ft.

Source: U.S.G.S. Quadrangles, Baden and Mars. Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Chapter 93.

Land Use The wide varieties of land uses in Franklin Park Borough are typical of the growing outer-ring suburbs of Pittsburgh. The Borough is made up of mostly residential land uses with a small percentage of commercial and industrial uses. The Borough is typical of a bedroom community; people live in the Borough, but work elsewhere. The following definitions identify land uses found in the Borough. Recreational: This classification includes land conducive for sports, leisure activities, and other customary recreational activities. In the borough, land classified as recreational includes the four borough parks, golf course, several nature preserves, and the State Game Lands located in the northern portion of the Borough. Residential: Residential land is identified as property on which a building, or portion thereof, containing one or more rooms for living purposes, together with separate and exclusive cooking and sanitary facilities, accessible from the outdoors either directly or through an entrance hall shared with other dwelling units, and used or intended to be used by one family. The majority of the Borough’s land use is residential and it is located throughout the municipality. In general, the eastern portion of the Borough is more densely populated while the western half is more sparsely populate Public/Semi-Public: This classification is defined as any building or structure owned or operated by a governmental agency or a use to which the public has access. Examples include schools, the municipal building, churches, etc. In Franklin Park, these uses are scattered throughout the municipality. Vacant: Vacant, or open space, is defined as land which is essentially unimproved. Commonly, open space is set aside, designated, or reserved for public enjoyment, or for the use and enjoyment of owners and occupants of land adjoining or neighboring such

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parcels. Land of this nature is more commonly found in the western portion of the Borough. Commercial Land: Land that is dedicated to activities carried out for monetary gain is classified as commercial. The majority of commercial businesses are located along the I-79 interchange, and along Rt. 910 Wexford-Bayne Road. Agricultural Land: Agricultural land is used for the production, keeping of, maintenance, for sale, lease, or personal use of plants and animals useful to man, including, but not limited to: forages and sod crops, rains and seed crops, dairy animals and dairy products; livestock, including beef, cattle, sheep, swine, horses, ponies, mules, or goats or any mutations or hybrids thereof, including the breeding and grazing of any or all such animals; bees and apiary products; fur animals; trees and forest products; fruits of all kinds, including grapes, nuts and berries; vegetables; nursery, floral, ornamental and greenhouse products; or lands devoted to a soil conservation or forestry management program. There are two active farms in the Borough; Soergel Orchard Farm and Kaelin’s Farm. Industrial Land: Industrial land is land on which economic activity including forestry, fishing, hunting and trapping, mining, construction; manufacturing; transportation, communication, electric, gas, and sanitary services; and wholesale trade is observed. There is one industrial zone and it is located in the western portion of the Borough. See Figure 4, Land Use Plan, on the next page.

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Review of the Park System The Franklin Park Borough parks system includes seven properties located throughout the Borough. These properties, as well as other recreational properties in the municipality can be found on Figure 5, Open Space and Recreation Plan, after page 2.15.

Acorn Park is a 26-acre park located in the south-central portion of the Borough. The park features deck hockey, a mountain bike trail, a hiking trail, nature studies, playground equipment and a picnic grove. The property is densely wooded and contains many areas of steep slopes. The only developed portion of the park is the area adjacent to the road. The rest of the park is available for passive recreation. The Borough intends to preserve Acorn Park in its natural state. Little or no further development is envisioned for this park.

Blueberry Hill Park is the jewel in the Franklin Park Borough park system. Blueberry Hill is located in the center of the borough between I-79 and I-279. The park contains 87 acres and includes baseball and softball fields, lighted sand volleyball courts, lighted tennis court, football field and track, lighted basketball court, hiking and walking trails, an equestrian trail, horseshoe pits, bocce court, corn hole game, concession stands, gazebo, activity center, picnic shelters, and playground equipment. At present, about two-thirds of the park’s space is developed.

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Linbrook Park is located in the far northwestern portion of the borough. The park is 80 acres and contains baseball and softball fields, hiking and walking trails, an equestrian trail, horseshoe pits, nature studies, an obstacle course, soccer field, lacrosse fields, nine hole disc golf course,playground equipment, and picnic shelters. Future park development options for this park include: new pavilions, concession stand/restrooms, and water and electric.

Clover Hill Golf Course is a 56-acre, ninehole executive style public golf course, located in the southeast section of the borough. The borough owns the golf course, but it is managed separately from the parks and recreation department. The golf course should remain the primary use at this site; however, improvements to the golf course, such as, extending holes 1 and 5, are planned for 2015.

Old Orchard Park is a 16 acre site located at the intersection of Old Orchard Road and Rochester Road. The park contains a small parking area, a multipurpose field, and a 2,915 foot walking path with three entrances. Future development in this park includes: improvements to the walking path, a playground, pavilion, restrooms, and a sand volleyball court.

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In addition to the developed parks mentioned above, the borough also owns two other open space properties, Alpine Nature Preserve and the Mel Lubert Nature Preserve. Alpine Nature Preserve consists of seven steeply-sloped acres located in the northeast portion of the Borough near Cole Road and Matterhorn Drive. The Borough intends to keep this parcel of land as an open space with no planned development. The Mel Lubert Nature Preserve is an 8-acre Tract of land located in the northern part of the Borough adjacent to Wexford Run Road. It is a natural area with one section being a steep slope. The remainder of the preserve consists of two retention ponds and a section of Pine Creek that runs through the length of the property. It may be possible to develop a nature trail in the preserve.

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Agency Mission Statement and Goals A mission statement is one of the most important items an organization can develop to help it succeed. A good mission statement states what the organization is all about, what its reason is for being, and what is its purpose. An organization can develop a mission statement by answering the following questions: • • • •

Who are we? Whom do we serve? How do we serve? What do we offer?

The Franklin Park Borough Recreation Board has developed the following mission statement: “The mission of Franklin Park Borough, the Recreation Board, and the Parks and Recreation Department is to organize recreational and social activities for the benefit of Borough residents and to advise Franklin Park Borough Council on the acquisition, development, and maintenance of safe, usable and aesthetically pleasing recreational areas and facilities.” The mission statement is a reflection of the Borough’s direction, purpose, and goals for parks, recreation, and open space over the next ten years. This statement will be re-evaluated periodically to determine if it is reflective of the current initiatives being undertaken by Franklin Park Borough.

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CHAPTER 3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

CHAPTER 3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION The public participation process for this plan included: monthly steering committee meetings, interviewing stakeholders, a recreation survey, a teen survey, key person interviews, and two public meetings. Study Committee Meetings: A study committee is formed to help guide the process of developing the Comprehensive Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan. With the recommendation from the consultant borough council appointed members to serve on this committee. The original study committee list included eleven people. One of the members resigned from the committee and another member could only be involved through emails due to a conflict with his schedule. The borough manager also attended the meetings and provided additional input. The committee consisted of a variety of people, representing various groups in order to obtain a good representation of information. Table 14 lists the study committee members and their affiliation. Table 14 - Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan Study Committee Name Arleen Abbs Matt Cooper Troy Bonte* Janet Demma Joe Grennan Jane Hopey Jim Lawrence Connor Poisker Maureen Poisker Ashwin Reddy** Bill Schweitzer *Resigned from Borough Recreation Board ** Participated by email

Affiliation Senior Representative Recreation Program Director Recreation Board Member Planning Commission Member at Large Borough Council Member Borough Council Member Junior Recreation Board Member Recreation Board Chairman Junior Councilperson & Student Park Grounds & Maintenance

Stakeholder Interviews: Stakeholder interviews are a very important part of the public participation process. To ensure validity in the stakeholder interview process, a questionnaire was developed by the consultant and reviewed by the steering committee with a few suggested changes. The questionnaire was used as a guide for each of the sports organizations interviews. The Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) was also interviewed as stakeholders utilizing a different set of questions. Additionally, several park users were interviewed while conducting park inventories to obtain more information concerning programs and facilities they would like to see in the parks. Resource Interviews: In addition to the stakeholder interviews, several resource interviews were completed. These were interviews with other entities to discuss potential partnership opportunities. These interviews included: Baierl Family YMCA; the Recreation Alliance of North Pittsburgh (RANP), which is the recreation directors from the surrounding municipalities; and the Northland Library.

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Teen Survey: The task of getting teens involved in the planning process is always a challenge. To meet this challenge, the consultant developed a survey that was distributed to a number of teens by the junior recreation board member and the junior council person. The surveys were returned to the consultant for review and included in this study to determine ways to meet the needs of the borough teens. Park and Recreation Survey: In the summer of 2014, Franklin Park Borough sent a survey to all of the residents in the community concerning recreational preferences. The consultant assisted the borough to develop the questionnaire. The consultant tabulated and analyzed the results, summarizing them in a survey document. This survey had a response 16.2% (797 of the 4,907 surveys that were mailed were completed and returned). Comparing the responses to 2010 census data the results were deemed to be statistically significant. Public Meetings: Two public meetings were scheduled throughout the planning process. At the first meeting, the borough manager introduced the project, reviewed the findings from the citizen survey and the stakeholder interviews, provided a list of projects for updating existing park facilities, and sought additional input from those in attendance. Using the results of the first public meeting, the study committee meetings, the stakeholder interviews, the recreation survey, the resource interviews, and the key person interviews, the consultant created the list of goals and objectives. At the second public meeting, these goals and objectives were presented to the public. Attendees were asked to rank these goals and objectives in order of their importance. However, there wasn’t enough prioritized responses received to make the data valid, therefore, completing the priorities with limited data would only skew the results. Therefore chapter 10 was not completed.

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CHAPTER 4 ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 4 ADMINISTRATION Borough Administration Franklin Park Borough is governed under the Pennsylvania Municipal Borough Code. Under the Code, the Borough is governed by six elected officials (council) and an elected mayor. The council is granted executive and legislative authority and is responsible for appointing the members of various boards and commissions. The mayor’s chief duty is to oversee the operation of the police department. Franklin Park Borough has three council members who serve on the Recreation/Golf Course Committee. They are to act as the liaison between the borough staff/recreation board and the full council. The daily operation of Franklin Park Borough is conducted by the borough manager. Franklin Park’s Recreation Department has experienced growth for the past fourteen years, due to the population increase and the expansion of facilities and programs. The Recreation Board was originally established in February of 1965 when the borough council adopted ordinance number 25-65. The recreation board operated under that ordinance until 1998. At that time borough council amended the ordinance giving the present parks and recreation board its authority. The new duties and responsibilities of the recreation board include, but are not limited to the following: 

The recreation board should be a regular advisory board, and, as such, it shall only be advisory in nature and shall perform no administrative duties.

The board shall:     

    

Act in an advisory capacity to council in matters relating to parks, recreation, and forestry. Develop and review policy matters with respect to recreation. Cooperate with other governmental agencies and civic groups in the advancement of parks and recreation in the Borough. Recommend policies pertaining to all municipal park and recreation matters within the Borough. Review and make recommendations to the borough manager and council concerning problems of developing recreation areas, facilities, and programs to meet the needs of the borough residents; to recommend plans and general policies with respect to public park and recreation services; and to assess the importance and need of recreational services to the general public. Inform council as to the status and progress of recreation and park services. Promote stability and continuity of park and recreation services. Evaluate annually the park and recreation system in the community in relation to its objectives. Submit an annual report to council as deemed necessary. Promote the planting of trees, shrubbery, etc. on private and public property in the Borough.

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The recreation board consists of nine members; of which, there are currently three vacancies. Any borough resident is able to serve on the board. Interested residents must attend three meetings and, if they are still interested after this phase, they submit a letter of interest to borough council. Council then appoints the board member(s) based on the number of openings. Community Relationships and Regional Initiatives The Borough has a long history of working with community groups to provide recreation services to borough residents. Franklin Park Borough began this recreational initiative as a member of the North Allegheny Joint Recreation Board. The North Allegheny Joint Recreation Board is composed of the members from the school district and the four municipalities that make up the North Allegheny School District; Franklin Park Borough, Town of McCandless, Marshall Township, and Bradford Woods Borough. They work together financially to provide a four-week regional recreational program at several locations throughout the school district. Each of the communities that comprise the North Allegheny Joint Recreation Board signed a regional programs agreement in the late 1960’s when the board was formed. Over time this agreement has been misplaced; however, the board still continues to function in its original manner. The Borough and the North Hills YMCA, now the Baierl Family YMCA, have worked together for many years. Initially, programs such as a family swim night and kindersoccer were coordinated together. Around 2001 the Borough coordinated with the YMCA in the construction of a new facility on 14 acres owned by the Borough, which is now the location of the Baierl Family YMCA. Coordination and cooperation has continued through various venues between the Borough and the YMCA. Expansion of these opportunities in the future can further benefit recreational opportunities for both entities. The Baierl Center located at North Allegheny Senior High is another recreation resource in the area that could be utilized by borough resients for recreational initiatives. This facility should be considered as a potential resource for future recreation programming. The Northland Library and the Borough have coordinated various recreation programs for a number of years. The library has participated in the “Festival in the Park”, conducted story time programs, and held Tai Chi programs at the activity center. Continued recreational cooperation between the Borough and Northland Library will benefit the residents of Franklin Park Borough. Public Relations & Marketing Effective communication is imperative to inform residents of a community about recreational facilities and programs. According to the 2014 recreation survey and other information obtained through interviews, many residents have indicated they are unaware of the programs and facilities available in the Borough. It is important for the residents of Franklin Park to be aware of the facilities and any future programs that the borough offers. Therefore, expendatures on public relations and marketing is money well spent. Public relations, marketing, customer service, and community relations are four complementary functions that have the same goal: making the recreation and park services more successful. In order for any marketing strategy to be successful, strategists have to know the needs of the community and offer programs that will meet those needs. The programs must be high quality and affordable. Using catchy titles for programs is another way that often encourages participants. There

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are seven principal types of marketing communications used by municipal recreation and park agencies: (1) personal selling; (2) advertising; (3) incentives and special promotions; (4) point of participation communications; (5) publicity; (6) word of mouth; and (7) post-participation communication. Each of these should be explored and incorporated into future marketing efforts as programs are developed. (See the handbook “Municipal Recreation Programming” chapter four for more details on marketing) Since public relations and proper marketing are two of the ways to successfully provide a vibrant parks and recreation programming initiative, it is vitally important for the Borough to improve its current methods and develop new methods to inform the residents about recreation in the Borough. As the Borough continues to develop facilities and programming, it is important to remember that two of the most effective methods for promoting the facilities and programs are by word-of-mouth and positive-participation-results in past events. This is true in any area where quality programs and events are offered. Currently, according to the recreation survey, the borough newsletters have been the most effective way for residents to obtain information. The Borough sends out a recreation newsletter late winter and a borough newsletter late summer each year. The recreation newsletter generally consists of 40 to 48 pages explaining facility rentals, program registration, upcoming programs for the spring and summer, and general information about the Borough and each of the departments. The borough newsletter is generally 40 pages that provide pertinent information about the Borough along with recreation programs for the fall and winter. The use of social media to disperse information to the residents is becoming a very effective way for residents to obtain information. The Borough uses its website to provide information and a variety of current happenings in the Borough. The online calendar provides a great ‘at a glance’ view of the meetings and major upcoming programs and events. It is imperative that the Borough continue to maintain and update the website so that everything is current. The website also provides a link to the program registration form that residents and non-residents can use. The website requests the participants’ email address along with the other required information, developing a database. From this, a list of email addresses can be developed and maintained to alert residents of upcoming events. This email list needs to be further developed to include all residents that would like to receive additional information concerning recreation facilities and programs. The email list could be used for a bi-weekly/monthly e-newsletter to provide additional or updated information on activities, meetings, or other area happenings. A number of residents that completed the recreation survey stated that a monthly reminder about the programs would be very helpful. Like sending a monthly enewsletter. One of the most cost- effective methods of providing information to the community is through Facebook. The borough recreation department has a Facebook page, but it needs to be properly maintained with current information. This does limit you to those who are on Facebook, but it is becoming more popular and one of the best ways to communicate. The use of Twitter is another method that is effective in reaching primarily those under thirty. Other forms of social media that are becoming more popular are: Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and Linkedin. These may be considered for future use as methods of communication to the residents, especially the younger generation. Flyers are used for certain programs and are an effective method for providing information to the residents. Circulating flyers through the schools’ electronic-envelope-program has been effective in reaching many of those with school age children, but it eliminates everyone else. If the programs marketed for the school-age group it is important to include those children who attend parochial schools and those who are home-schooled. Flyers can also be used to inform residents through the businesses and as inserts or articles in church bulletins.

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The local newspapers are an effective method of providing information to the residents in the area; however, not everyone receives a newspaper. This method has been used, but not as frequently as it should be in comparison to other communities. Signs are a very effective way for providing information about programs. The use of street signs in advertising upcoming programs has served as a reminder to residents and provided an influx of registrations after the signs have been placed at strategic locations throughout the Borough. The digital display sign is used for advertising programs, but it is often difficult to read the entire message displayed. The use of banners, kiosks, bulletin boards, etc. can provide other viable opportunities for marketing. These are all effective ways to reach the residents with the desired information concerning events in the Borough. As additional recreational activities are developed, and new technology becomes available, the Borough will need to expand their marketing efforts. In order to guide the Borough in the area of public relations and marketing, policies should be established to ensure proper methods are used. Municipal-School Municipal-school relationships can open up many opportunities for municipalities to offer a variety of programs utilizing school facilities, such as: gymnasium, cafeteria, auditorium, library, computer rooms, home economic rooms, art rooms, music rooms, shop areas and possibly classrooms. The opportunity also exists for using the schools’ exteriors amenities, such as: playgrounds, parking lots and field areas. This can be a win-win situation for the school and the municipality by providing facilities that the municipality would not otherwise have available to conduct programs. It also allows the tax payers to feel like they are getting something additional for their school tax dollars. However, it is often difficult to obtain use of these facilities, especially the gymnasiums, due to the high demand to use them. The Borough for many years has use of the gym at the Franklin Elementary School on Thursday evenings during the school year for adult pickup basketball games. If needed in the future, additional use of school facilities should be considered. Cooperative Efforts In today’s economy it is imperative to develop partnerships with other government agencies, forprofit enterprises, and non-profit associations. The establishment of these partnerships enhances opportunities for each entity through coordinated and collaborative initiatives. Partnerships have always been a part of the park and recreation field; however, it is only recently that these collaborative efforts are becoming vital in the provision and management of recreation. Individuals, communities, and businesses are beginning to realize the valuable benefits of recreation and active living, and the value of partnerships in providing them. Partnerships help the Borough to offer a valuable service to their residents providing them with a greater quality of life. The value for individuals includes: health benefits, stress reduction through relaxation, a sense of belonging, lifelong learning, self-discovery through achievement, and cultural growth. The recreational opportunities provided by the Borough can help bring residents together to develop a sense of community, as well as building community spirit. Community recreation keeps people connected, and reduces alienation and loneliness while strengthening the community. Providing quality recreation in a community creates alternatives to self-destructive behavior, helps to prevent crime, and keeps children involved in positive activities and out-of-trouble. Parks and recreation is a benefit to the community’s environment through the preservation of plants and wildlife, the protection of

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natural resources, enhancement of air, water and soil quality, and the provision of buffers, greenways and trails. Another advantage to developing a partnership to increase recreational opportunities in the region is the economic benefit. A quality recreation and park system attracts business relocation and expansion. These businesses provide jobs, while also attracting or retaining highly educated professionals to the area. These people often decide where to live based on the leisure services provided in the community. Providing quality leisure services can further enhance the economy by attracting tourists and retirees and enhancing real estate values. The effectiveness of municipal recreation services is increased when municipalities work together. Offering programs to a broader base of people rather than just one municipality increases the chance of having enough individuals interested to support each program. Generally associations, i.e. baseball, soccer, etc. cross borders in offering their activities and in using the required fields. Many skills are needed to provide a diverse range of programs and activities. The opportunity to locate people with these diverse skills increases through an intergovernmental partnership. Intergovernmental partnerships are a logical way of furthering the initiative to develop recreation. Franklin Park Borough has been a leader in this area through the development of Community Tours, now known as the Recreation Alliance of North Pittsburgh (RANP). Currently, RANP consists of the following communities: Franklin Park Borough, Marshall Township, Ohio Township, Richland Township, and Cranberry Township. RANP is exploring the opportunity to include other municipalities in the North Hills area. RANP has been working together to offer a variety of programs to the residents of the North Hills. Two of the most successful programs are the “Movies in the Park” and the “Special Needs Family Fun Day.” The group has developed a shared recreational resources guide to which each municipality has contributed information and from which each municipality obtains information in order to enhance programming in their respective community. Area businesses can play an active role in a recreation partnership, although it may be more of an indirect rather than a direct role. Since the economy has a great impact on the businesses, establishing successful recreation programs can help enhance the economy, thereby helping the area businesses. Franklin Park has received numerous donations and program sponsorships from area businesses over the years. The donations have been used to enhance the recreational programs, while the sponsorships have provided additional funding to add more activities and entertainment at events like the “Festival in the Park.” In return the Borough has recognized these businesses at the events for their donations and sponsorships, providing them additional advertising. Scouting groups have been in existence for over one hundred years and are very open to working with communities. Many scouts grow up to be community leaders through their volunteer efforts and early leadership opportunities. Partnering with these organizations provides the region with benefits now and into the future. Franklin Park Borough has worked with both the Boy Scouts and the Girls Scouts for many years through various events and projects. Boy Scout Troop 36 has assisted with several programs throughout the years in setting up, running games, and cleaning up after the event. Without their help these programs wouldn’t be as successful as they have been. Boy Scouts from several troops have worked on their Eagle Scout projects in the Borough parks. Their projects have improved the parks through the construction of trails, benches, and other park amenities. The Girl Scouts have improved the appearance of borough facilities through the planting of flowers and general cleanup of park areas. This continued relationship can help build quality individuals while enhancing recreational facilities and activities in the community.

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Sports associations comprise a major part of park facility usage. Since they are in the parks and using the facilities on a regular basis, their support is crucial to the successful operation of the facilities. They are providing a service to the community through the programs they offer for both the youth and adults of the area. Partnering with these associations ensures continued sports programming, and through proper agreements with them, continued improvements to park facilities. There are a number of athletic associations in the Franklin Park area that use park facilities. 1.

2. 3. 4. 5.

6.

7.

Ingomar/Franklin Park Athletic Association (IFPAA) which provides T-ball, baseball, softball and a special-needs Challengers program for borough residents and surrounding areas. North Allegheny Little League (NALL) provides little league baseball opportunities for the North Allegheny School District. Tiger Pride Football offers youth football and cheerleading for youth in the North Allegheny School District. North Allegheny Soccer Club (NASC) provides soccer opportunities for youth in the North Allegheny School District. North Allegheny Lacrosse Association (LAX) provides lacrosse opportunities for youth in the North Allegheny School District. This is one of the fastest growing sports at this time. Pittsburgh Cricket Association utilizes the cricket/softball field at Linbrook Park. This is one of only two cricket fields in western Pennsylvania. They have grown from four teams a few years ago to 18 teams in 2014. Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society has helped to developed a nine hole disc golf course at Linbrook Park that is open to the public to use any time.

Five of the seven organizations have a written agreement with the Borough that protects the rights and interests of each party, their participants, the facilities, and liability issues. These agreements outline specifics regarding the use, maintenance and insurance issues concerning the fields and other facilities they utilize on borough park property. The agreements cover potential costs involved in the maintenance and upkeep of the facilities and the responsible party. The associations using municipal facilities are charged a fee for use of the facilities. Franklin Park uses a flat rate per acre minus any improvement costs incurred by the association to determine their yearly fee. In some cases, the associations pay for materials for park improvements, and the borough provides the labor to do the improvements. There are numerous other organizations that provide a variety of recreational opportunities for the youth and adults of the area. The Borough publicizes the contact information for these organizations in the recreation newsletter, but does not provide facilities for these organizations. Policies & Procedures Franklin Park Borough has established policies and procedures that govern the general operation of the recreation and park functions. The borough has the following policies and procedures in place: 1. Park rules and regulations that detail the park user’s responsibilities while utilizing the park facilities. These are provided to those renting park facilities and should be posted at various locations throughout the parks.

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2. Resident and non-resident uses of facilities, participation in programs, and a resident/nonresident fee structure are in place. 3. Procedures for renting picnic pavilions and the Activity Center include filling out an application, placing a deposit fee, signing a hold-harmless agreement, and signing a paper indicating that those responsible have read and will abide by the established regulations. These facilities can be rented for the coming year starting the first Monday of March in the current year. 4. Facilities such as fields and courts can be rented by filling out a facility use application and providing either an insurance certificate or signing a hold-harmless agreement. Sports organizations are also required to submit for approval a schedule of their use of the respective facility or facilities. Rentals start on January 2nd of each current year. In order to administer a quality recreation organization, it is imperative to be well organized. Establishing a well-defined administrative manual helps to keep important information easily accessible. The park administrative manual for Franklin Park Borough consists of several different manuals including: a general operation manual, a park operation manual, a program operation manual, a facility rental manual, and a risk management manual. Each of these manuals is broken down into subsections containing pertinent information pertaining to the main topic. The manuals that currently exist should be updated on a regular basis. These documents will provide the borough staff with valuable information that is easy to locate, and will allow the staff to function in an organized and effective manner in all areas of administering recreation and park demands. The following is a listing of elements that are or should be included in this manual:             

The Borough Ordinance establishing a Park and Recreation Board Park and Recreation Board Bylaws Park and Recreation Mission Statement/Goals/Objectives Facility use/rental policy Programming policy to include non-discrimination policy, fees and charges policy and non-resident use policy Organizational chart, job descriptions (full and part-time personnel), personnel benefit description, job evaluation instrument, hiring procedure for full/part-time personnel, disciplinary procedures and in-service training staff procedures Procedures for financial expenditures and collection of program fees Public relations/marketing procedures Copy of municipal liability insurance policies for facilities and programs Risk management plans Intergovernmental cooperative agreements Utilization of volunteers/organizations Policies for fund raising

The development and maintenance of these types of documents will afford the Borough Council, Park and Recreation Board and the Department Directors the ability to work together as a team, each knowing their respective roles and responsibilities. An administrative manual delineates the policy-making role of the Park and Recreation Board and the delegation of technical responsibilities to the directors and department staff.

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One of the tools that the Borough has used to determine if its programs and activities are meeting the needs of the residents is a program evaluation form. As programs are developed, the participants or their parents are given a program evaluation form to complete to provide constructive feedback about the program in which they participated. The form should be customized for each program and the type of activity for which input is being acquired. This form should be used to evaluate each program and its effectiveness in meeting the needs of the residents. Also, verbal comments from the public should be recorded for future reference for several reasons: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

As constructive criticism for future improvements Documentation of positive feedback Reference material when applying for grants or awards Determining whether to retain or eliminate the program in the future Determining a better time or location for the program

Another avenue of feedback that should be incorporated into public involvement is an evaluation of the program by the instructor. It is important to know his or her perspective of how successful a program was and any improvements that could be made. Franklin Park Borough recognizes that the success of the Parks and Recreation Departments is related to the satisfaction of the residents that use the facilities and programs. Unless the Borough provides the type of facilities and programs that the residents want, the Parks and Recreation Departments will not be meeting the needs of the residents. The Borough currently has a well-defined policy manual for all employees. However, as the Parks and Recreation Department continues to expand, the Borough may need to create additional policies for maintenance staff, programming staff, instructors, and volunteers. Record-Keeping Procedures Accurate record keeping is vital to the success of any recreation and park effort. It ensures the effectiveness and efficiency of the program, and will eliminate the possibility of forgetting important information that can be used in the future to advance and/or protect the borough in many areas. The importance of keeping good records cannot be over-emphasized. Written records are especially important when you are writing grants, preparing the budget, submitting for awards, and in the case of liability issues. Following is a list of records that should be maintained, updated continually, and filed properly for quick reference. 

 

Program attendance records – these are effective in determining if the program is growing, maintaining status-quo or losing participants. Although attendance will vary with the seasons, over a period of time it will help determine when specific programs should be offered. Program evaluation records – these records will provide direction in offering programs that meet the needs of the residents and ways to improve the programs offered. Inventory records – these records will help the staff know what equipment and facilities are available, when they were purchased and constructed, where they were purchased, who

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  

  

was the manufacturer, their condition and any other pertinent information concerning the product or facility. These are especially important if the product or facility has a warranty. Replacement records – these provide guidance for budgeting and for determining the quality of the product or facility; and indicate if the department received full value from their initial purchase. Equipment maintenance records – these records ensure that all of the equipment is properly maintained, preventative maintenance is used, and warranties are protected. Inspection records – these are especially important in risk management. They will record all pertinent information needed to ensure the safety of the users by reporting damages. The Borough can then make repairs in a timely manner and avoids potential liability issues. Playground inspection records are of vital importance. Pesticide application records – detailed information on any pesticide applications must be maintained to avoid potential liability issues and to establish proper maintenance of areas where these applications are applied. Daily work log – this will provide the essential information for scheduling, determining what the staff is accomplishing, showing the time taken to complete a project and indicates additional staff needs. Volunteer records – maintaining a list of volunteers, the projects or programs they are involved with, and the number of hours they work will provide important information for retaining volunteers, determining future volunteer needs, and providing volunteers with information they may need in obtaining jobs, scholarships, etc.

The Borough has done a good job of record keeping in most areas. The Parks Department and the Recreation Department need to continue maintaining accurate records. As the recreation and park efforts grow, other records and various forms of information will have to be recorded, filed and maintained to meet the growing needs of the Borough, assist in budget preparation, and protect the borough from liability issues. Public Involvement in Planning Efforts The residents of Franklin Park Borough have had the opportunity to get involved with recreation and park efforts in the area. Throughout the development of this document many opportunities were available for the residents to provide their input into the process. A recreation survey to gather information from borough residents was sent to all households. The borough had 796 surveys, or 16.2%, completed and returned. Key person and stakeholder interviews were conducted to determine the recreational needs for both facilities and programs. A study committee was formed to meet on a regular basis to discuss various aspects of the plan and to develop the goals and objectives that will guide the borough for the next ten years. Additionally two public meetings were conducted to relate the information gathered to the public and to obtain additional information from those in attendance. The information gathered through these methods provided valuable data in determining the future needs of the Borough. Residents can also attend the bi-monthly council meetings and monthly recreation board meetings where they have the opportunity to speak about any matters, including their interests or concerns about recreation and parks in the Borough

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CHAPTER 5 BOROUGH PERSONNEL

CHAPTER 5 AGENCY PERSONNEL Organizational Chart An organizational chart shows how the people in an organization are to work together, who is responsible for what, who reports to whom, and how each person is expected to relate to everyone else. It also shows how one department is to work with all of the other departments in the government. Normally in government, a functional organization chart is used. Functional organizations are made up of specialized departments, i.e. police, public works, building/zoning, parks and recreation, finance, etc., each of which is headed by a specialist. In this form of organization the experts are not only advisors, but, they are in the chain of command and deal directly with the problems. It is critical that department heads, supervisors, and employees recognize their roles in the larger system and that they are aware of their effects on other department’s actions. Therefore, continual communication between departments is necessary to operate effectively. The information referenced above provides guidance for the organization, employees and volunteers. Franklin Park Borough has a new organizational flow chart that was adopted in 2014 under which its employees operate. (See Page 5.8 – Franklin Park Borough Organizational Chart) The existing organizational chart efficiently serves as a guide for Franklin Park Borough’s Parks and Recreation Departments. As the departments grow in the future, the organizational chart should be updated and revised to accommodate changes within the departments. A functional organization chart is a good tool to have in place to indicate the chain of command for all aspects of parks and recreation, including the Recreation and Park Advisory Board. The organizational chart along with by-laws provides the board with a better understanding of their role in the community. The organizational chart provides structure for both employees and volunteers that are, or will be, associated with providing and maintaining recreation programs and facilities. Parks and Recreation Personnel The Borough of Franklin Park has two divisions within the Parks and Recreation Department. Staffing in the recreation division consists of the Recreation Program Director who reports to the Borough Manager. The Recreation Program Director is responsible for the administration of a comprehensive year around recreation program. The recreation program director is charged with the responsibility of overseeing other staffing consisting of three part-time facility supervisors, numerous program instructors, and volunteers for programs. The recreation program director is assisted by the secretary/receptionist with program registrations and facility rentals. Staffing in the parks division consists of the Manager of Golf Course and Sports Fields who reports to the Borough Manager. His primary responsibilities are to oversee the golf course operations, and to maintain all of the parks and recreation facilities in a safe and aesthetically pleasing manner. Also, this position is charged with the responsibility of overseeing other staffing consisting of two full-time, three seasonal, and two summer staff. The three seasonal park laborers are hired to work a forty-hour week from April through November doing all forms of general maintenance tasks in the parks. The summer park laborers work a forty hour week from May through August doing a variety of park maintenance work. The Borough has detailed job descriptions for the recreation program director, the facility supervisors, and parks maintenance staff. The Manager of Golf Course and Sports Fields is currently performing the duties listed in the Park Director's position. Having job descriptions in place furnishes the Borough with

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information to provide both new and current employees with details as to what their job entails. These descriptions should be reviewed regularly and discussed with current employees. As things change within the parks and recreation departments, items may need to be added to, or deleted from the job descriptions to keep them up to date. All current and any new employees should have a copy of their up to date job description. It is also imperative for seasonal/summer personnel to have an understanding of the position they hold. Therefore, a job description should be written that describes the duties and responsibilities of their position and the skills required for the position. This should be given to the seasonal/summer employees before they start, not only to give them an understanding of their responsibilities, but as a form of education concerning the job and what is expected of them. The staffing level for both the parks and recreation departments should be periodically reviewed to determine if there is sufficient staff to meet existing demands by the general public as new facilities are developed and programs are increased in the Borough. The directors must have sufficient staff in order to maintain the park system at the best possible standards. This will permit the directors to pay attention to administration, program planning, problem solving, program staff recruitment, maintenance issues, and public relations. When new staff is needed to fill new vacant positions, the Borough advertises for the position. The applications received are reviewed, and the applications are narrowed down to the best overall candidates. They are then interviewed by a select committee. This committee will select the best candidate and make their recommendation to Borough Council. Borough Council, will then be approve the hiring of the candidate at a public meeting. Volunteers for the recreation board must attend three recreation board meetings. Then they must submit a letter of interest. The recreation board will make their recommendation to appoint the individual. The borough council will review the letter of interest and the recreation board’s recommendation and make their decision to appoint the individual to the recreation board. Volunteers Volunteers are an integral part of providing adequate staff in the field of parks and recreation. Staffing is a problem faced by almost every parks and recreation department. Therefore, it is imperative to establish a core group of volunteers to assist with programming and other aspects of parks and recreation. Following is a list of potential volunteer resources that can be found in many communities:

1. Recreation and Park Board – Franklin Park Borough has an established Parks and Recreation Board. The Borough’s Park and Recreation Board acts as an advisory board to council and the recreation department. The board consists of nine (9) members who are appointed by the Borough Council. The members of a Recreation and Park Board generally serve a five (5) year term that can be renewed. The members are volunteers who serve without pay. The board elects a chairperson and a secretary each year. Other officers may be elected, as deemed necessary. An advisory boards responsibility is to recommend to borough council various policies to meet the recreational needs of the community residents. They are also responsible for planning, promoting and supervising various programs, providing guidance concerning park development, financial needs, future staffing needs, and recommendation for future open space acquisition. The Borough passed an ordinance in

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1965 that created the Parks and Recreation Board. This ordinance was updated in 1998, and in 2005 a set of bylaws was adopted. 2. Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts & similar organizations – The opportunity to work with these groups is very rewarding for both the organization and the community. They are generally required to do community service and/or projects to earn merit badges or advance to higher levels in the organization. Utilizing them to help with programs can provide much needed assistance in running games and other activities. A boy scout, working on his Eagle Scout project, may provide a park with a new facility or other features that may not otherwise be constructed. This provides them the opportunity to use their leadership skills and learn at the same time. Franklin Park has utilized the services of scouts successfully in many ways. 3. Community service organizations – These organizations can come in many forms such as: church groups, student groups, women’s organizations, or service organizations such as: the Elks, Moose, Lions, Rotary, etc. All of these organizations will often offer their services and/or financial support to help the community provide a higher quality of life for the residents. 4. High School/College Students – Students will look for opportunities to do volunteer service so they can include the information on their applications for scholarships or on resumes. This is an excellent resource for obtaining volunteers for programs or small projects. 5. Corporate volunteers – Many businesses now require their employees to contribute volunteer time in various capacities. Connecting with these companies and establishing viable volunteer opportunities that are interesting and rewarding for their employees can develop a long lasting source of volunteers. Working with a special needs event is especially rewarding. 6. Required community service individuals – These are generally individuals that have been in trouble with the authorities for some minor violation of the law. The courts normally require them to do a certain number of hours of community service in lieu of fines and/or jail time. These individuals are usually given minor maintenance tasks to complete, or they may help with special events. The number of hours they are required to work generally isn’t long enough to depend on them for any major projects. The individual/parent or legal guardian should be required to sign a waiver indicating that they are not covered under workmen’s compensation, and indicating the final number of hours they complete. 7. Concerned Citizens – These individuals are citizens that are genuinely concerned about the welfare of the community and are willing to devote some of their time to benefit the community through wholesome recreation opportunities. 8. Friends Groups –Friends groups are usually concerned citizens that have gone a step further to support the community. They are normally set up as a non-profit 501 C-3. These groups will be discussed more under the finance section. A friends group should be considered by the Borough to help further the development of recreation and parks. 9. Adopt-A-Park – This is a group that will adopt a specific park as their project and help with maintenance and various projects in that park.

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10. Renewal Incorporated – This organization provides prisoners the opportunity to go out and work in communities as volunteers assisting with various projects. 11. Senior Community Service Employment Program – This service provides older adults the opportunity to work at no cost to the municipality. www.experienceworks.org 12. Student Conservation Association – Provides students of all ages volunteer opportunities, including summer programs and internships serving and protecting national parks, forests and urban green spaces. www.theSCA.org 13. AmeriCorps – This is a national service program that allows people of all ages and backgrounds to earn money which helps pay for education in exchange for a year of service. Some funds may be required to pay these individuals. www.americorps.org The above list of volunteer resources helps provide some areas from which to seek volunteers to supplement staffing for the parks and for programs. Even though these individuals are generally not paid for their services, there is an extensive amount of time and effort involved in locating these individuals and providing the proper guidance, training and direction to maintain quality in the parks and programs they are associated with. Often it is difficult to retain them as a continued volunteer resource. The use of volunteers by the Borough will need to be developed and expanded as more recreational opportunities become available in the communities. Other Potential Staffing Opportunities Other potential staffing opportunities that will require some municipal funds include the following: Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance (PHEAA) offers a work study program for students in the field of parks and recreation, as well as other fields. Local government agencies can apply to receive a list of students in the area who are eligible for this program. PHEAA will pay 40% of the student’s wages while working under the work study program. Work-Study program students not only earn money to contribute to their educational costs, but also enhance their classroom learning with valuable work experience while assisting the municipality by providing community service. This is an excellent opportunity to help a student get experience while keeping the wage costs down for the recreation and park program. If interested in participating in the PHEAA Work-Study program, an application should be submitted by December for the upcoming summer program. www.pheaa.org Local Government Academy sponsors a Municipal Intern Program where both graduate and undergraduate students from all area colleges and universities are invited to attend a Municipal Intern Fair. A certain number of paid internships are available each year through the Municipal Intern Program. The program provides a service to various communities by placing students in municipalities to complete their summer internship programs. The students work full time for a twelve week period during the summer focused on a particular project. A student working through this program could help in a number of project areas. The Pennsylvania Conservation Corps (PCC) can provide two valuable benefits to a community. First both men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 can join the corps for a one year term of service which can be extended. Preference is given to the economically disadvantaged. They are paid for their service as a corps member and gain valuable work experience through the completion of substantial and

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needed projects. They receive on the job training in a variety of trades depending on the work project. Depending on the individual, they may be offered adult literacy tutoring, life skills training, vocational education, college courses, job-search workshops and the chance to earn an equivalent high school education. This program offers interested individuals an opportunity to make a major difference in their life. The second benefit is to the community. A municipality can submit an application to have the PCC come into the community to work on a project. Municipalities that are awarded a PCC project receive the services of a crew for one year; most also receive funds to cover the cost of materials for the project and contracted services. www.pcc.org There are a number of colleges and universities that offer course curriculums in the area of parks and recreation. The students studying in the various fields offered within the parks and recreation departments are required to do practicums and internships before earning their degrees. These students are an excellent source of help for municipal recreation programming. A practicum student usually has to work 120 hours to complete their requirements, while an intern student has to do anywhere from 400 to 600 hours of work to complete their internship. These students like to find positions where they are paid, but it isn’t a requirement that they are compensated. Since these students are in the field of parks and recreation, they usually have a genuine interest in what they are doing, knowing that they will be graded on their efforts and that there are potential jobs opportunities that can come from this work. As part of their work they are normally assigned a project to complete that will benefit the community. Penn State University, Slippery Rock University, California University, Butler County Community College, Lock Haven University, York College, East Stroudsburg, Temple, as well as a few other schools in Pennsylvania, can be contacted to locate students that are potentially available for doing a practicum or internship. The Borough has successfully utilized both intern and practicum students in the past. If the Borough has a continued interest in providing an opportunity for these students and obtaining this type of staffing for the community, these institutions should be contacted the fall before they will be needed for the position. Most program instructors want to be paid for their services. However, you can find individuals who are more interested in improving the quality of life in the community through recreational programs. These instructors are usually residents of the community that have special talents that they are willing to share with others by providing classes or programs for interested individuals. This provides an excellent opportunity to get residents involved in helping to improve the community at a nominal fee. It does take some time and effort to locate these people and to convince them that they have something to offer to the community. The above information supplies a variety of different methods to provide additional staffing for parks and recreation in the community. Additional research into each area may be required to determine which opportunities are a viable alternative for the Borough. The Peer to Peer project is a consulting service coordinated with the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation to help the grantee solve an existing problem or improve services in a specific area. This service provides the grantee with management related technical services of an experienced professional who has extensive training, knowledge, and experience in the issues related to the project. When the project is completed, the grantee will be provided with a course of action and set of recommendations to help address the problem studied and will be encouraged to consider and implement the proposed recommendations.(Taken from the DCNR Peer-to-Peer Technical Assistance Projects General Information and Guidelines)

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Personnel Policies Franklin Park Borough has a very detailed personnel policy manual. Every employee, especially new hires, should be aware of all of information contained within the manual. It will help them understand their rights and other requirements as an employee. This will help avoid potential personnel issues that may arise in the future. The manual indicates that employees are provided opportunities to attend educational sessions. Continued training and education is very important in keeping employees and volunteers up to date on changing trends and issues in their respective areas. The Borough should be aware of upcoming conferences, workshops, and seminars that may benefit the employees and volunteers serving the community. There are numerous opportunities for personnel to attend educational programs throughout the year, such as the playground maintenance workshop, trail maintenance workshops, and turf and infield maintenance workshops. DCNR and the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society offers many learning opportunities throughout the year for maintenance employees and administrative employees. These organizations also offer a variety of programs specifically for park and recreation boards. These programs would help the board have a better insight into their roles in the community and into how to improve recreation and park experiences for the residents of the Borough. It is recommended to continue providing employees and volunteers the opportunity to attend available workshops, seminars, and conferences. The Borough also conducts a yearly performance evaluation of department heads to provide them guidance for improvement in their specific area of responsibility. Staffing Needs Currently, the borough secretary/receptionist assists with various forms of office support. As the Borough grows, it may become necessary to hire a parks and recreation secretary to relieve current staff from some of the office responsibilities so that they can concentrate on their primary responsibilities. With future expansion of programs and facilities, it may be beneficial to hire a parks and recreation director to oversee both current divisions in the department, while handling many of the administrative responsibilities that are currently undertaken by the recreation program director and the manager of the golf course and sports fields. The current maintenance staff has been able to maintain the parks in a relatively good condition. However, there are a lot of additional maintenance and upkeep tasks, as noted on the park facility matrix for each park, which should be undertaken to further improve the facilities. It may be necessary to hire additional seasonal/summer personnel to accomplish these tasks. The Borough has done an excellent job in the development of facilities to meet the needs of the community. However, with the addition of new recreation facilities and areas that are designated for development, maintenance must be considered and dedicated staff hired to properly maintain these areas and facilities to the high standards that the residents should be provided. It is important for the Borough to continue with quality development, maintenance, and programming of recreation and parks for several reasons: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Quality recreation programs and parks decrease the crime rate. They enhance the quality of life for the residents. They improve the economy. They encourage new residents to move into the area increasing the tax base. It can encourage more tourism. Parks increase property values and attract business and industry. Recreation programs improve fitness and wellness of the residents.

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In order to achieve this, adequate staffing is required to meet the demands and needs of the residents and properly maintain the facilities. In today’s society background checks and clearances are imperative to help ensure the safety of park users. The Borough does a good job in obtaining these checks and clearances. The sports organizations that utilize the borough facilities also indicated that they conduct these checks and obtain the clearances for the coaches in their respective organizations.

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CHAPTER 6 FACILITY and OPEN SPACE INVENTORY & ANALYSIS

CHAPTER 6 FACILITY AND OPEN SPACE INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS Existing Conditions Before determining what Franklin Park Borough must do to enhance its recreation facilities and programs, a thorough examination of the existing facilities and programs had to be completed. Table 15 lists all recreation facilities in the borough, regardless of ownership. Also included are five facilities located close to the border of Franklin Park Borough. Figure 6, Regional Facilities Map, inserted after page 6.2, indicates the park facilities located in Franklin Park Borough and in the region. Name of Facility Acorn Park

Blueberry Hill Park

Clover Hill Golf Course

Linbrook Park

Mel Lubert Nature Preserve Alpine Nature Preserve Old Orchard Park

Baierl Family YMCA

Table 15 - Recreation Facilities in Franklin Park Borough or Nearby Size Ownership Facilities Present Deck hockey, equestrian trail, 26 acres Franklin Park Borough hiking/walking trail, nature studies, playground equipment, picnic grove Baseball/softball fields, sand volleyball courts, football field and track, basketball court, tennis court, horseshoe pit, bocce court, corn hole 87 acres Franklin Park Borough game, hiking/walking trails, equestrian trail, concessions, picnic shelter, playground equipment, Activity Center, gazebo, large two story pavilion, log house 56 acres

Franklin Park Borough

80 acres

Franklin Park Borough

8 acres

Franklin Park Borough

7 acres

Franklin Park Borough

16 acres

Franklin Park Borough

14 acres

Franklin Park Borough – land YMCA - facilities

Nine hole golf course Baseball/softball fields, hiking/walking trails, equestrian trails, horseshoe pits, nature studies, obstacle course, soccer field, lacrosse fields, cricket field, disc golf course, picnic shelters, playground equipment Open natural area with two retention ponds and a stream Steeply sloped area not currently developed Walking trail, proposed facilities – playground, pavilion with restrooms, sand volleyball court Swimming pool – indoor & outdoor, fitness facilities, gymnasium, climbing wall, day care room, meeting rooms, miscellaneous areas

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Franklin Ridge Development Hunters Point Development Ingomar Swim Club Franklin Elementary School

Unknown

Private

Unknown

Private

6 acres

Private

5 acres

School District

Ingomar Middle School

14 acres

School District

Baseball/softball fields, basketball, football field, gymnasium, tennis courts

State Game Lands, #203

158 acres in Franklin Park – total acres 1,238

Public

Hiking/walking trails, hunting, nature studies, shooting range

Brook Park

Unknown

Wall Park

Unknown

Millvale Sportsmen’s Club

100+ acres

Club Members

Ohio Township Municipal Park

Unknown

Public, located in Ohio Township along Nicholson Road

5 acres

Public, located in Ohio Township along Nicholson Road

Ohio Township Ball Field

Public, located in McCandless Township along Fassinger Lane Public, located in McCandless Township along Sloop Road

Swimming Pool 1 tennis court, 1 basketball court, swimming pool, and a clubhouse. Open swim, organized swim teams Baseball/softball fields, volleyball, playground equipment, gymnasium

Swimming pool Tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, sand volleyball court, playground Clubhouse, fishing lake, rifle range, pistol range, sheet range, trap range, archery range, pavilion Nature Center, natural amphitheater, soccer and multipurpose fields, walking/ jogging track, handicap trail, open-air pavilion, picnic shelter, and playground. Ball Field

Facility & Open Space Analysis Franklin Park Borough has a multitude of recreational facilities available for the residents. These facilities include a diverse assortment of: active recreation amenities, such as various court and sport fields; trails; indoor and outdoor opportunities; and plentiful open space throughout the parks. As part of this plan a detailed inventory of each park and the recreational amenities within the park was completed. A record of this information can be found in Appendix A. This inventory created a comprehensive list of amenities available in each park and records the following information: 1. Potential liability issues 2. Maintenance issues 3. ADA compliance 4. Condition of the facility/amenity 5. Age appropriate facility. In order to consolidate the information gathered as part of the inventory process Table 18 on pages 6-8 and 6-9 provide an overview of the facilities available within each of the Borough’s parks. As can be seen in this table, the existing facilities that the Borough owns provide opportunities for wide

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variety of users. A quick glance at the table also indicates that the Borough has a variety of active recreational facilities, specific fields and courts that cater to sports organizations and other groups that utilize these facilities. In general the park facilities are in good condition. However, there are maintenance issues and improvements that should be addressed. These issues can be found on the park inventory matrix for each park in Appendix A. The issues listed were those noted at the time of the inventory. Some of the issues may have already been addressed, and others may have come about since the inventories were completed. It is imperative to maintain a watchful eye on the facilities in order to recognize maintenance problems and address them in a timely manner, especially those that could develop into a hazardous condition. The four main parks owned by the Borough are equipped with playground facilities. Blueberry Hill Park has the oldest equipment, as the Blueberry Patch Playground was constructed in 1994. Even though it is the oldest playground, it is the most heavily used by residents and non-residents. It has been adequately maintained over the past twenty years, but it is showing signs of wear. Since playground equipment can be a liability to the Borough, it is important that the necessary repairs and upgrades are made to ensure the safety of the playground users. Reference to these improvements can be found in the Blueberry Hill Park inventory matrix. The other two playgrounds at Blueberry Hill Park are approximately ten years old and in relatively good condition. The Blueberry Hill Park inventory matrix indicates items with both of these playgrounds that would further improve them. Linbrook Park has two playgrounds plus a large swing set. Both of the playgrounds are approximately ten years old and the swing set is approximately forty-five years old. The inventory matrix for Linbrook Park provides details for improvements to each of these facilities. Acorn Park has one playground that is approximately ten years old. Although it is in relatively good condition, a few things are indicated on the inventory matrix for this park. A play structure has been purchased for Old Orchard and is slated to be installed in 2015. To ensure the continued safety of these playgrounds, regular inspections need to be conducted and recorded. The majority of the borough’s facilities are ADA compliant. However, there are some areas that could be improved to enhance ADA accessibility. Several of the playgrounds are accessible internally. However, an access ramp at the designated entrances to these playgrounds would improve their accessibility. Other areas that should be considered to bring the facilities into compliance are indicated on the park inventory matrix for each park. The facilities located in the borough parks are, for the most part, utilized by the borough residents frequently. There are three facilities in the parks that receive minimal use and one that needs to be upgraded to bring it back to the heavy use it used to receive. The shuffleboard court near the football pavilion is only used during the Special Needs Family Fun Day. It is enjoyed that day by the participants in that program. The horseshoe pits located near the tennis court at Blueberry and near the Whispering Pines shelter at Linbrook do not see the use they once had. However, the recreation survey did show that there is a small interest in horseshoes. Likewise, the bocce court located near the tennis court at Blueberry is seldom used, but the recreation survey did show a small interest in this facility. The lack of use of these facilities may partially be the lack of knowledge by the residents that these facilities are available in the parks. Proper marketing of the facilities and the development of programs that would utilize them would encourage greater use. The obstacle course at Linbrook Park was once a very heavily used facility. The course is now over thirty years old and many of the obstacles have been removed due to deterioration. The course still sees use and should be redeveloped with new obstacles that are safe, yet challenging.

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Franklin Park’s neighborhoods are scattered throughout the community, many of which are not located near the existing parks. Therefore, most of the residents have to drive to the parks. This was an issued that was stated numerous times on the recreation surveys. Many residents indicated that they would like to see bike/walking lanes developed along the main borough roads so that they could use them to access the parks, as well as for exercise. Old Orchard Park is an exception to this, as it is a neighborhood park that many residents living nearby walk to on a regular basis. With the future development of this park, it will see heavy use by those able to access it on foot or by bike. The Boroughs park sites contain partial or whole woodlots. In maintaining parks, the woodlots are often overlooked as part of the maintenance and conservation of the park. These areas are primarily used for trails; however, areas such as the disc golf course have been developed in these woodlots. Franklin Park’s desire to conserve and maintain the trees and woodlots is commendable and was shown through a Forest Management Plan completed in 2012 for Acorn and Linbrook Parks. In order to preserve these areas, the recommendations in the plans should be followed. The development of these plans established certain management goals and objectives for the trees and woodlots: 1. Maintaining the health of the forest 2. Improving and maintaining the safety within these areas to protect the park patrons from hazardous condition 3. Improving and maintaining the aesthetics of these areas so they can be enjoyed by the park patrons. In developing the forest stewardship plan, a number of things were taken into consideration: 1. Water Resources – this includes all streams, tributaries and ponds located on the property. 2. Soils – this includes the various types of soils that make up the wooded area. 3. Mineral Resources – includes the different minerals that are found at the site. 4. Habitat Inventory – is the variety of trees, shrubs and wildlife located at the site. 5. Species of Special Concern – Any species that may be listed on the Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. 6. Cleanup and Rehabilitation - species of concern that should be controlled in these areas. 7. Forest Health – are there diseased trees, insect invasion, or invasive species present? 8. Aesthetics – what is the general appearance of the wooded areas? Although the plans were completed for only those two parks, the information contained within the documents can be utilized to preserve the integrity of the forests and woodlots in the remaining parks. Hazardous trees should be removed; however, not all dead trees are hazardous, but offer good habitat for many species of animals, birds, and insects. Invasives, such as multiflora rose, oriental bittersweet, stilt grass, Japanese honey suckle, Japanese knotweed, and others should be controlled to avoid having them take over an area and eliminate native species. Other native plants such as grapevines, Virginia creeper, and poison ivy also need to be kept at bay. Many varieties of ornamental trees were planted in the parks to provide shade, color, and diversity. These trees should be properly preserved and identified by plaques to help educate park users.

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The Borough currently has a wide variety of parks and open space. A need according to the 2014 recreation survey, is the continued development of greenways, and bike routes, as previously mentioned. Figure 7, Pedestrian-Bicycle Bike Route Plan, on the following page, illustrates potential areas for pedestrian-bike route development within Franklin Park Borough. Franklin Park Borough has been fortunate to have a significant amount of designated park land available for the residents. However, as the population of the Borough continues to grow, adding additional park areas should be considered. The eastern side of the Borough has the fewest and smallest park sites, but the largest concentration of population. Although this area is fairly well developed, if the option to purchase a tract of land, or receive it through a donation becomes available, it should be considered. The central part of the Borough has the largest, most heavily- used park, Blueberry Hill Park. This part of the Borough has seen significant development over the past two decades. The western part of the Borough has seen the least amount of development, but has two park areas, Linbrook Park and Acorn Park. As the existing facilities in these parks are improved and the land is developed into residential areas, the use of these parks will expand. Therefore, the Borough should seek potential property donations or purchases to increase the amount of park land available. Some pieces of property that should be considered are the small tract of land that is located at the northern tip of Blueberry Hill Park between I-79 and I-279. This piece is very small, inaccessible by any means other than through Blueberry, and has no real value for facility development. However, it would complete the ownership of land in that area and provide for a small expansion of the trail. This property should be obtained as a donation from the current owners. Another piece of property on the southeastern side of Blueberry should also be considered in order to further expand the existing park. This twelve acre parcel would have to be purchased from the current owner, if a reasonable price could be negotiated. Another parcel that could be obtained in the future is the twenty-three tract of land currently owned by North Allegheny School District on Magee Road Extension. This parcel could be linked to Acorn Park. Comparison with National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Standards and Guidelines The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has been the organization that sets the standards for parks and recreation in the United States for decades. In their 1983 publication Recreation, Park and Open Space Standards and Guidelines, the organization provided extensive tables with baseline information showing how many people are needed to support each of the different levels of parks; how many field facilities are needed based on population; and the size of the population needed to support specialized facilities such as swimming pools and community centers. These standards were often looked at by organizations such as DCNR when a municipality would submit an application for a grant. Often, if they did not have the population to support the facility, according to the NRPA standards, the municipality would not receive funding In 1996, NRPA released a follow-up publication, Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenway Guidelines. In this publication, the NRPA has altered its standards by allowing municipalities to document a need and support for a facility, thereby not using population as the basis. The new standards adopted by the NRPA make it easier for municipalities to construct recreation facilities that their residents need. However, in order to provide a baseline, the old standards are often used for comparison. NRPA has two park categories: Neighborhood park/playground or mini-park, and community park. A neighborhood park/playground/mini-park are areas for intense recreation activities, such as field games, court games, crafts, play equipment, and picnicking. These parks should be suitable for intense

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development, easily accessible, and be geographically centered with safe access. They typically have a service area of ¼ to ½ mile and should be 1 to 15 acres in size. NRPA recommends 1 to 2 acres of these parks per 1000 resident population. Community parks are areas of diverse environmental quality. Also, they include areas suited to intense recreation facilities such as athletic complexes and swimming pools. Community parks may be in an area of natural quality for passive recreation or may contain a combination of both types of recreation. These parks should be suitable for intense development and easily accessible. Often, these parks have natural features such as a body of water. Community parks generally have a service area of 1 to 2 miles and are 25 acres in size or larger. NRPA recommends 5 to 8 acres of these parks per 1000 resident population. In the Franklin Park Borough park system, Acorn Park, Old Orchard Park, Mel Lubert Nature Preserve, and Alpine Nature Preserve are neighborhood parks/conservation areas. Blueberry Hill Park, Clover Hill Golf Course, and Linbrook Park, are classified as community parks. Table 16 compares Franklin Park Borough park land with the NRPA standards. Table 16 - Park Land Comparison to National Standards Type Of Park Acres/1000 Existing 2010 Need 2010 population Acres Surplus/(Deficiency) Neighborhood 2-4 56 27 to 54 29 to 2 Park / Playground Community Park 10 - 16 223 134 to 215 89 to 8 2010 Census: Population: 13,470

2025 Need 36 to 72

2025 Surplus /(Deficiency) 20 to (16)

170 to 283

53 to (60)

2025 Population Estimate: 17,707

Franklin Park Borough is fortunate that past elected officials had the foresight to plan and set land aside for park and recreation purposes. The Borough, when compared with NRPA standards, has adequate park and recreation land available until at least the year 2018 based on population projections. Table 17 compares the borough’s recreational facilities to national standards. Table 17 - Recreation Facility Comparison to National Standards Activity / One Facility 2010 2010 Existing Facility 1000 People Need Surplus/(Deficiency) Baseball Fields 3,000 7 5 2 Softball Fields 3,000 5 5 0 Basketball 5,000 4 2 2 Courts Football Fields 20,000 2 0 2 Picnic Shelters 2,000 3 7 (4) Soccer Fields 10,000 1 1 0 Tennis Courts 2,000 1 7 (6) Sand Volleyball 5,000 2 3 (1) Courts Playgrounds 2,000 7 7 0 Horseshoe Pits 7,500 2 2 0 2010 Census: Population: 13,470

2025 Need 6 6 3

2025 Surplus / (Deficiency) 1 (1) 1

0 9 1 9 3

2 (6) 0 (8) 0

9 2

(2) 0

2025 Population Estimate: 17,707

As mentioned above, the NRPA National Standards are based on the “average” community’s needs. The comparisons above should only be used as rough guidelines and not as absolutes to determine how Franklin Park Borough compares to the “average” community. Recreation tastes and demands vary

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across the country; therefore, the only accurate method available to gage whether or not the borough’s park and recreation facilities are adequate is to ask the residents. Kevin Ashner, a planner from the greater Miami park system, argues that the true measure of a good standard is “the level of customer satisfaction.” Recognized for his contribution to parks research, he suggests the following criteria for good standards: 1. Relevance – 2. People Orientation – 3. Performance Standards –

4. Feasibility – 5. Practicality –

They should reflect the needs and lifestyles of today’s residents. They should reflect the unique needs and preferences of the people in the area being served. They should provide a basis for measuring achievement of the community objectives. They should measure the quality of recreation service rather than the simply the quantity. They should be attainable within a reasonable time frame and with available funding sources. They should be simple to understand and apply. They should be based on sound planning principles, information, and a credible development process. They should also be flexible enough to handle unanticipated situations and rapidly changing needs.

NRPA also provides an equation to analyze a recreation facility demand (RFD). The purpose of this is to determine the actual facility demand and whether or not there are enough sport fields being provided for organized sport league play. To determine the recreation facility demands, take the recreation participation (RP - #Participants/Year/Unit) and multiply it by the Participation Frequency (PF #visits/Year/Unit) and divide that by the Sample Size (SS - total number of occupants living in sampled households). RFD = RP x PF SS This formula provides an excellent way to determine the need for new or proposed facilities.

Business Community Needs In addition to the residential community, the needs of the business community must be considered. Up through the 1990’s Franklin Park Borough was primarily residential. More recently the Borough has experienced a burgeoning of office buildings and other commercial establishments, concentrated in the I-79 Corridor along Nicholson, Wexford–Bayne and Brandt School Roads. These office buildings and other business establishments along with their workers present a challenge to the Parks and Recreation Department. The Borough must plan to meet not only the needs of its residents but also that of the business community. Providing facilities and programs to counter the negative effects of a sedentary work environment is extremely important to maintaining healthy employees. It’s well known that businesses consider cultural and recreational opportunities when deciding where to locate. The Parks and Recreation Department can help attract business to Franklin Park and increase the tax base by meeting the recreational needs of workers who are employed within our community.

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Currently certain workers are already utilizing borough parks at lunch time, especially workers who have mobility, i.e. cable repairmen, construction workers and other similar occupations. When deciding which recreational facilities to build, consideration must be given to the needs of the business community and its employees. The Borough can meet this need by constructing facilities and promoting recreational programs such as:     

Developing company specific golf leagues at Clover Hill Golf Course or develop a golf league comprising of employees from several small companies. Establishing adult softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball and other similar leagues. Promoting the use of the Blueberry Hill Park Activity Center for business meetings, seminars, luncheons or other corporate functions. Providing areas of the park where employees can enjoy their lunch hour. Small picnic shelters and shaded park benches are examples of locations where employees can enjoy a well deserved break. Establishing Wi fi capabilities in the parks.

Today’s employees are no longer tied to their desks or offices. Employers are less interested in the amount of time spent in the office and are more focused on employee productivity. More and more employees are working out of their homes and/or away from a central office. Providing borough facilities and programs to reach this segment of the population is one of the Borough’s priorities. The borough parks are used throughout the year. Since Blueberry Hill Park is the premier park and the best known park, it receives the greatest use. As indicated on the recreation survey, many of the residents are unaware of the other parks. Therefore, better promotion of these parks is needed to enhance their use. The facilities within the parks are meeting the residents needs in many areas. However, the recreation survey, along with other means used to gather information, indicated that the residents would like to see certain other facilities. The main facilities mentioned in the survey included: more walking trails, splash park, fitness trail, dog park, and a field house/community center. Two of the other facilities noted in the survey to a lesser degree, but often mentioned through the other means of gathering information, are pickleball courts and tennis courts.

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Facilities

Indoor Facilities

Trails

Sports Fields

Activity Center Log House Pavilion Activity Rm. Nature Trail Paved Trail Jogging Track Baseball Lighted Baseball – Non-Lighted Softball – Lighted Softball – Non-lighted Football – Lighted Soccer Lacrosse Cricket Multipurpose Batting Cages

TABLE 18 - Overview of Existing Borough Recreational Facilities Acorn Blueberry Linbrook Old Mel Alpine Clover Hill Park Hill Park Orchard Lubert Nature Golf Park Park Nature Preserve Course Preserve    





Comments

Rental Hall, Kitchen, Rec. Area, Lounge Area Two story

All natural 

  

1196’ Three fields 

Blueberry – 1 Linbrook – 3 1



Blueberry – 1 Linbrook - 1

       



Linbrook – 2 Overlays softball field Blueberry – Meadow Area

 Con’t.

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Sand Volleyball Basketball Tennis Pickleball Horseshoes Bocce Corn Hole Shuffleboard Pavilion 20’ x 32’ Pavilion 40’ x 60’ Pavilion



Gazebo Playground

 

      



Old Orchard - 2015

Overlays tennis ct. 

  



Blueberry –Football Old Orchard – 2015



Blueberry – 3 Linbrook – 2 Acorn – 1 Old Orchard - 2015

Facilities

Recreational Destinations

Support Facilities

Dek Hockey Obstacle Course Disc Golf Course Golf Course Restrooms Maintenance Building Garage





  



 



 

9 hole



  

9 hole

Storage

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CHAPTER 7 FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

CHAPTER 7 FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE Existing Conditions Parks, facilities, and equipment maintenance is completed in Franklin Park Borough by the park department employees. This affords the department the ability to maintain park areas and facilities as their top priority and coordinate with the program director to avoid potential conflicts between maintenance projects and recreation programs. Maintenance of the parks is essential to providing safe, usable, and aesthetically pleasing areas and facilities for the residents of the Borough and for visitors from other communities. By providing an efficient and effective recreation and parks maintenance program, the Borough is able to enhance recreation amenities, save money, reduce liability, improve life expectancy of facilities, create an attractive park atmosphere, and foster environmental stewardship. As in all communities, there are a lot of maintenance projects that need to be addressed in the parks. Many of these are noted on the park inventory matrix in Appendix A. The parks department staff has done a good job of maintaining the parks in Franklin Park Borough in a safe and acceptable condition. However, it is imperative to continue to improve the overall park maintenance to achieve the high quality standards that Franklin Park desires to display at their facilities. Facilities and Equipment Maintenance The Manager of Public Works, Facilities, and Special Projects oversees the park building maintenance. The Manager of the Golf Course and Sports Fields oversees park employees, establishes the work schedules and projects, handles fields and turf issues, and assigns daily routine maintenance. The department consists of two full time park laborers, three seasonal park laborers, and two summer park laborers. Depending on the project, the public works department may also help in the parks, especially for larger construction projects. Outside contractors are also used for some tasks, but the majority of the park work is completed in-house. Most of the equipment needed for park maintenance is owned by the parks department; however, certain pieces of equipment, such as a backhoe and other large equipment are shared with the road department to avoid duplication. In order to keep the equipment in good working condition, the parks department personnel perform routine maintenance. They also will do any major repairs within their capabilities. When equipment is needed the, Manager of the Golf and Sports Fields will include it in the annual budget request. Record Keeping Equipment maintenance records are maintained by the parks’ staff. These records are kept for each piece of equipment indicating both minor and major repairs along with all standard maintenance. An equipment replacement schedule is maintained to ensure the staff has quality equipment to work with at all times. It aids in providing greater efficiency and effectiveness, enhancing safety, and making budgeting easier. The schedule provides a basic guideline for replacement. Some equipment may need to be replaced sooner, while other equipment may last longer than the scheduled replacement date. Financial conditions will play an important part in the replacement schedule, making routine maintenance of equipment a vital part in keeping equipment in good condition.

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Playground Inspection Playground inspection records are an important part of record keeping. This is a vital document to have in case there would ever be a lawsuit due to someone getting injured on a playground. It is just as important to maintain records of inspections of all facilities and equipment in the parks. A visual inspection should be completed each week, possibly when trash is picked up. A more thorough walk through inspection should be conducted at least once a month during the busy seasons. These inspections should be properly recorded and any deficiencies noted so that they can be addressed in a timely manner. This work should be recorded in the daily log of work completed, and noted along with the inspections. Other records should include: fire inspections; health department inspections of any areas serving food; and application of any chemicals sprayed in the parks. Maintenance Program Analysis There is a formal written park maintenance plan available, as needed it should be updated. The purpose of a formal park maintenance plan is to provide maintenance staff with information needed to prioritize tasks and complete them efficiently and effectively. A formal plan also helps reduce liability risks and assists in the coordination of project planning. A formal maintenance plan provides the guidelines and procedures to correct problems and to perform the necessary work promptly. A maintenance plan for all park areas should begin early in the development stage in order to effectively and efficiently maintain each area after it has been developed. The management plan should cover maintenance procedures and inventories for all recreation areas and facilities, along with other areas maintained by the parks department. Each area and facility maintained should be thoroughly inspected and compared to the standards of acceptable conditions. The information obtained should then be incorporated into the maintenance plan. The maintenance plan must be given to the employees to use as a guide providing them the general information needed for the proper maintenance of each area and the frequency of maintenance for the parks, facilities, and equipment. The employee’s responsibility is to contact the Manager of the Golf Course and Sports Fields for instruction on circumstances not covered in the maintenance plan. It is also the employee’s responsibility to take notice of safety conditions at each park or facility, and take immediate action to secure against accident or injury until a recognized hazard can be eliminated. There are two components to developing the park maintenance plan; a preventative (proactive) plan and a responsive plan. The department is currently working on the design and development of a formal proactive maintenance plan that will help keep the park areas and facilities in top condition. The proactive plan is designed to eliminate major issues before they arise by taking into consideration both the short and long range maintenance details. This will not eliminate all responsive issues, but will allow the issues to be handled more efficiently when they arise. Another value to the proactive approach is the cost savings. There is a significantly lower cost to providing general maintenance then there is to doing major repairs. The proactive approach will eliminate poor maintenance practices that can result in substandard facility appearance and safety. The proactive approach, once established, will provide a quality ongoing maintenance plan that will ensure safe, usable facilities and encourage patrons to continue coming back, potentially generating additional revenue for the Borough in the future.

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A responsive maintenance plan is needed to accommodate the unforeseen issues that will arise. This aspect of the plan will provide direction for the immediate repair or closing of a facility until repairs can be made. This is a reactionary plan that will require specific and timely attention to the pending issue and will vary with each situation. To prepare a successful maintenance plan, the Borough should complete the following tasks as recommended by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR): • • •

• • • •



Involve all employees in order to get their complete understanding and support. Inventory the resources. Develop a standard for each resource. The standard is a short description of what the resource should look like when the maintenance has been completed. The standards can include specifics such as grass cutting heights and frequency. List tasks to perform so that the resources are maintained up to standards. The tasks should be described in enough detail so that anyone would know how to perform them. Determine the amount of time it takes to do each task. Decide how often each task needs to be done. The frequency will determine the quality and cost of maintenance. Schedule tasks into an operational plan and divide up the tasks to develop a schedule for each staff person or crew. This could be established with the existing staff, or added in the future, if staffing is increased. Implement and monitor the work schedules so adjustments can be made as needed. Have staff track how long it takes to complete each task and then monitor the quality of maintenance.

A turf management plan is another important aspect in maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance for the parks. Franklin Park has a well-defined turf management plan in place. Risk Management Analysis Risk management is defined by DCNR as “the process of making park areas and recreation facilities safer by conducting and documenting routine safety inspections, having procedures in place to correct problems, and performing the necessary work promptly.” A risk management plan should cover all recreation areas, facilities, programs and services offered. Each component of the park or recreation area needs to be thoroughly inspected and compared to the standards of acceptable conditions and then classified as either a safety risk or in good condition. The Borough has a written risk management plan in place; however, it may need to be updated. Risk management should encompass a proactive approach to eliminating any potential incidents before they occur. Regular playground inspections and records of the inspection is one of the top risk management priorities to insure the safety of the playgrounds and avoid any potential liability issues. Inspections of other facilities and amenities are also important to avoid issues that may arise. Another important aspect of risk management is background checks. The Borough conducts a thorough background check before hiring an individual to work in the parks or in any borough department. The recreation program director requires all instructors and facility supervisors to have a completed background check before beginning to work. All of the sports organizations that utilize borough fields also conduct background checks for their coaches.

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Another part of risk management is having staff trained in CPR/AED. The borough employees are provided the opportunity to attend CPR/AED certification classes offered through the McCandless/Franklin Park Ambulance Authority. The parks’ staff has always participated in these classes to update their certification. Borough personnel have access to automatic electronic defibrillators (AED) in the Activity Center, at the borough building, at the golf course, and the borough police department has them available. Consideration should be given to providing first aid training for all park staff. The safety of workers is another important consideration that the Borough takes seriously by providing the following safety equipment: safety glasses, ear protection, gloves, face shields, chaps, and helmets. Workers are also required to wear steel-toed shoes. As another safety precaution, depending on the type of work that is being completed, at least two people should be available on certain jobs, otherwise, it can become a safety issue. Any time a person is working alone there is a risk of something happening that could have been prevented. For example is, something as simple as collecting trash can become a safety issue if a person who is allergic to bees gets stung and goes into shock. “The Right to Know in the context of the United States workplace is the legal principle that the individual has the right to know the chemical to which they may be exposed in the workplace. (Wikipedia) The Borough has the MSDS information. It is recommended that a copy of this information be where employees have quick access, if ever needed. Park staff is afforded the opportunity to attend field maintenance, pesticide, equipment, and other maintenance seminars. Full time parks department also retain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Risk management is an important aspect that must be taken seriously in order to provide safe facilities and ensure the safety of park patrons, as well as, those performing the work in the parks. It is highly recommended that the risk management plan be reviewed and updated. A successful Risk Management Plan should consider the following:     

Develop a plan of action by prioritizing identified hazards and determine the cost to correct them. Routine playground safety audits must be done to minimize liability. Address problems through the correction of hazards. Be pro-active to preventing accidents. Implement mandatory safety training for staff, immediately act on complaints, and repair equipment with parts from the equipment manufacturer. Document all inspections and corrective steps.

The staff should be trained to perform at a minimum the following duties:  Continual monitoring of the physical condition of all facilities and open areas.  Conducting immediate repairs to minor unsafe facilities and areas.  Proper posting of unsafe conditions that cannot be immediately repaired.  Prevention of the use of unsafe equipment and facilities.  Reporting of safety hazards in writing.  Submission of accident reports.  Completion of major repairs as soon as possible

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Continual education opportunities should be provided for the entire staff regarding the safety standards published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and other such organizations. Each staff member should be familiar with contact procedures concerning legal requirements and inspections for conformity to sanitary regulations, criteria for licensing, fire laws, building and zoning codes, pesticide applications, and safety procedures. Fire extinguishers are located in easily accessible places in the buildings and should be in a highly visible location in park/road department vehicles and on other equipment. The extinguishers should always have a current inspection tag attached to them. A risk management plan also requires adequate liability insurance coverage. In today’s society this is a must. The Borough maintains adequate liability insurance on all park facilities, equipment and programs. The Borough also requires organizations utilizing the parks and facilities to carry adequate insurance for their programs or events.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES (ADA) As the Borough constructs new buildings and facilities or develop new parks, they will be required to meet all ADA specification. Existing structures or facilities should be adapted to meet these standards, allowing those with handicaps to easily be included in meetings, events, and other functions and programs in the community. New standards for recreation were adopted in 2010 and became mandatory in 2012, and so be sure to follow the most recent standards when planning all recreational facilities and in providing amenities at existing facilities. Franklin Park borough has done a good job in complying with ADA regulations in their parks. However, there are a number of facilities that are not ADA compliant. Most of these issues are located at the older facilities. According to the new regulations, any place there are benches, grills, water fountains, picnic tables, trash receptacles, etc. at least one must be ADA accessible. See the matrix in Appendix A for details on areas that are not ADA accessible. Also, new standards for playground surfacing compliance are being considered. If adopted these standards may affect existing or planned surfacing on borough playgrounds. In order to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is required that all public entities operate each service, program, or activity in a manner that is accessible to persons with disabilities. If a program or an activity is in a building that is not accessible to a person with disabilities, the Borough must (Mertes and Hall, 1996):    

Remove the barrier to access into the facility. Shift the location to an accessible site. Provide the service in some alternative method in an accessible facility. Construct a new facility for park programs.

All programs and facilities should be planned and developed to be inclusive. Printed literature advertising the programs should indicate that the facilities and programs are accessible. It is understood that certain facilities and programs may not be fully compliant, but efforts should be made to meet these needs whenever and wherever possible.

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The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits the discrimination against any individual because of a disability. In most cases this has primarily been taken into consideration in providing access to buildings and other facilities. However, ADA Regulation for Title II, as printed in the Federal Register (7/26/91) states: “The Department of Justice's regulation implementing title II, subtitle A, of the ADA which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all services, programs, and activities provided to the public by State and local governments, except public transportation services. Public entities must comply with Title II regulations by the US Department of Justice. These regulations cover access to all programs and services offered by the entity. Access includes physical access described in the ADA Standards for Accessible Design and programmatic access that might be obstructed by discriminatory policy or procedures of the entity.” (The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 – ADA Regulation for Title II) Therefore, under Title II no person with a disability can be unjustly excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of services, programs or activities of any public entity. Thus, any type of program or activity that is offered must be available to anyone with a disability. The law states that if asked, you must make “reasonable accommodations” which may include interpreters, aids or other needs. The expense for the accommodations must be incurred by the agency offering the program. ADA only requires a "reasonable accommodation," but what is unreasonable to you might be deemed to be reasonable to them. Losing money on the program is not considered unreasonable. Also, you can not cancel the program to avoid covering the costs incurred to make reasonable accommodations. A public entity must also ensure that its communications with individuals with disabilities are as effective as communications with others. This obligation, however, does not require a public entity to take any action that it can demonstrate would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of its services, programs, or activities or in undue financial and administrative burdens.

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CHAPTER 8 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

CHAPTER 8 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS Tax Support Comparison The most difficult issue facing almost every community in its quest to provide safe and aesthetically pleasing parks, and a variety of quality programs is finances. Many communities face unexpected issues yearly either within their parks, or within other municipal departments that often require funding to be redirected leaving inadequate financing to provide and maintain facilities and programs for their residents. The funds needed to support their facilities and programs generally come from the community’s general fund. Since all departments in the community must draw from the general fund to cover their operating and capital budgets each year, it is impossible for each department to be fully funded yearly. In the past and still in some communities today, park and recreation funding has been one of the first areas to be cut when funds are tight. However, many communities are becoming aware of the value of setting funds aside to provide quality facilities and programs. Over a period of time the value of recreation can be recognized through a reduction in crime, increased economic benefits, and improvements in the quality of life of the residents. With Franklin Park paying off the bond issues, additional monies became available in 2014 to increase park maintenance and development. The following table shows the overall budgeted revenues for Franklin Park Borough from 2010 through 2014. This table only indicates total revenues. For a detailed line item breakdown, the complete budget must be viewed. Tables 19 – Franklin Park Borough Revenues Actual Actual 2010 2011

Actual 2012

Actual 2013

Actual 2014

Total Revenues

$6,812,020

$7,361,865

$7,272,606

$8,127,574

$7,920,227

Percentage Increase

1%

8.1%

(1.3%)

11.8%

(2.6%)

The revenues for Franklin Park Borough have increased yearly since 2010, except for 2012 when there was a slight decrease in revenues. However there was a significant increase in 2011 and an even greater increase in 2013. These increases may vary partially due to the economic conditions at that time. The borough has a variety of resources from which revenues are obtained. Municipal taxes are one of the main sources for revenues. Recreational fees and charges, such as program user fees and rental charges, are another source of additional revenues yearly. License and permit fees, shared service fees, grants, charges for services and various other revenue sources comprise the revenues generated to operate the borough. The following table shows the overall budgeted expenditures for Franklin Park Borough from 2010 through 2014. This table only indicates total expenditures. For a detailed line item breakdown, the complete budget must be viewed.

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Table 20 –Franklin Park Borough Expenditures Actual 2010

Actual 2011

Actual 2012

Actual 2013

Actual 2014

Total Expenditures

$6,332,293

$7,065,543

$7,098,976

$7,314,119

$7,885,492

Percentage Increase

(1.8%)

11.6%

.5%

3.0%

7.8%

Franklin Park Borough’s expenditures since 2010 have varied, with a large increase in expenditures in 2011 mainly for public safety and road maintenance, and a very minimal increase in 2012. Both 2013 and 2014 saw increases in borough expenditures. The following table shows the budgeted recreation revenues for Franklin Park Borough from 2010 through 2014. Table 21 – Franklin Park Borough Recreation Revenues Actual 2010

Actual 2011

Actual 2012

Actual 2013

Actual 2014

Recreation Revenues

$239,151

$276,327

$277,454

$335,073

$316,532

Percentage Increase

(6.3%)

16%

.1%

20.8%

(5.5%)

Significant increase after 2012 due to a change to the fee structure for programs and a significantly higher developer donation that year. The revenues for 2010 and 2014 were lower than the preceding years primarily due to lower developer’s donations each of those years in comparisons to the preceding years. The following table shows a breakdown of the various sources of revenues for the parks and recreation departments from 2010 through 2014. Table 22 – Revenue Sources for Parks & Recreation

Recreation Events Festival in the Park Vending/Concessions Rental Fees – Shelters/Fields Rental Fees – Activity Center Maintenance Fees – Athletic Recreation Programs Developer Donations

Actual 2010

Actual 2011

Actual 2012

Actual 2013

Actual 2014

$1,638 $2,532 $116 $20,110

$1,796 $2,495 $15 $21,350

$1,774 $2,370 $22 $22,037

$1,211 $3,090 $33 $19,642

$745 $2,990 $5 $23,995

$52,470

$48,610

$60,720

$59,035

$55,530

$3,000

$200

0

0

0

$124,840 $34,444

$136,024 $65,838

$155,885 $34,645

$170,943 $81,119

$174,275 $55,500

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The parks and recreation revenues have had a relatively steady increase since 2010. These revenues are funneled back into the general fund with the exception of the developer donations that are held in a separate interest bearing account. The major difference in total revenues collected yearly for parks and recreation is found in the developer’s donations that are collected each year. The monies that are used to fund the parks and recreation operating budget are drawn from these funds with the remaining expenses coming from taxes through the general fund. The developer’s donations are separate and used primarily to help fund capital projects. The following table shows the budgeted park and recreation expenditures for Franklin Park Borough from 2010 through 2014. Table 23 – Franklin Park Borough Park & Recreation Operating Expenditures Actual 2010

Actual 2011

Actual 2012

Actual 2013

Actual 2014

Park & Recreation Expenditures

$480,769

$581,879

$588,842

$669,155

$711,313

Percentage Increase

34.8%

21%

1.2%

13.6%

6.3%

These expenditures have shown an increase with the exception of 2009 to 2010 where there was a significant decrease in expenditures. This decrease was due to a large capital expense and higher than normal public works salaries for work completed in the parks in 2009. 2012 had a minimal increase in expenditures while 2011 and 2013 had significantly higher increases in expenditures. The smaller increase in 2012 can partially be attributed to lower capital construction and capital purchases in 2012 versus 2011 and 2013. The average yearly expenditures from 2010 through 2014 is10.5% indicating that 2014 was 4.2% below the average expenditures. This is most likely due to capital construction projects that were planned for 2014 being moved to 2015. The following bar graph illustrates the comparison of parks and recreation revenues versus expenses. As can be seen in the graph 2010, 2011, and 2012 generated revenues that were a little less than 50% of the expenditures. 2013 revenues were at 50% of the expenditures, while 2014 revenues were only 44.5% of the expenditures. Over the five year period revenues averaged 47.8% of then expenditures.

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$800,000 $700,000 $600,000 $500,000 $400,000 $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 $0 2010

2011

2012

Revenues

2013

2014

Expenditures

The next table gives a detailed description of the percentage of the budget designated to each major segment of Franklin Park Borough’s budget from 2010 through 2014. This provides a better understanding of the percentage of the budget going to parks and recreation.. Table 24 – Franklin Park Borough Expenditures Comparison Expenditures Budgeted Budgeted Budgeted 2010 2011 2012 General Govt. Public Safety Building & Codes Public Works Culture Recreation Capital Transfers Debt Service Benefits & Ins. Reserve/Other

11.9% 21.2% 1.8% 18.4% 4.3% 7.9% 3.6% 6.8% 19.3% 4.8%

11.1% 20.5% 1.9% 22.9% 4.1% 7.0% 7.0% 5.4% 18.8% 1.2%

12.3% 26.4% 2.3% 29.6% 4.1% 8.4% 4.4% 5.3% 6.0% 1.4%

Budgeted 2013

Budgeted 2014

11.0% 28.6% 2.4% 29.6% 4.1% 8.6% 7.5% 5.1% 1.3% 1.8%

13.4% 26.5% 2.2% 27.3% 3.9% 9.7% 10.6% 4.5% 1.1% .8%

Franklin Park Borough has supported recreation through taxes for many years. The chart above provides a detailed comparison of expenditures for recreation in relation to expenditures for other municipal expenses. As shown in the chart only police, public works, general government exceed the expenditures for recreation over the past five years. Police expenditures are 16.8% higher, public works are 17.6% higher, and general government is 3.7% higher overall. It is recommended that Franklin Park Borough continue to provide tax dollars to enhance recreation facilities and programs through continued development, adequate maintenance, and increased programming. The following table compares Franklin Park Borough’s 2014 projected operating and capital budget to other communities in western Pennsylvania with similar socio-economic characteristics.

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Table 25 – Comparison of Park & Recreation Expenditures Community

County

Population

Operating Budget

Per Capita Budget

Capital Budget

Franklin Park Pine Township Cranberry Township Marshall Township Ohio Township Ross Township Richland Township Findlay Township Hampton Township Peters Township Moon Township Murrysville South Fayette North Fayette

Allegheny Allegheny Butler Allegheny Allegheny Allegheny Allegheny Allegheny Allegheny Washington Allegheny Westmoreland Allegheny Allegheny

13,470 11,497 28,098 6,915 4,757 31,105 11,100 5,060 18,363 21,213 24,185 20,079 14,416 13,934

$826,837 $716,387 $1,041,222 $263,032 $141,850 $440,239 $204,500 $599,683 $1,143,877 $1,312,588 $1,034,679 $305,455 $298,896 $558,576

$61.38 $62.31 $37.06 $38.04 $29.82 $14.15 $18.42 $118.51 $62.29 $61.88 $42.78 $15.21 $20.73 $40.09

$266,228

Capital Budget Per Resident $19.76

$207,048 $20,000 $50,000 $25,000 $302,500 $48,500 $1,365,000 $274,034 $190,000 $98,000

$29.94 $4.20 $1.61 $2.72 $59.78 $2.64 $64.35 $11.33 $9.46 $6.80

16,014

$634,844

$44.48

$258,755

$19.32

Averages

According the above comparisons, Franklin Park Borough is doing a good job in providing financing for parks and recreation in the community. The number of Franklin Park residents in this comparison is a slightly below the average number for the communities it is compared too. However, projected recreation expenditures are 38 % high than the overall average. Based on this information, it is no wonder that Franklin Park Borough has some quality facilities for their residents, including more unique facilities such as: the cricket field, a top of the line grass football stadium, a two story pavilion, an excellent sand volleyball complex, and many other quality facilities. The above table detailed the projected expenditures for each community. Even when comparing Franklin Park’s actual operating expenditures of $711,313 for 2014, the borough’s per capita expenditure is $52.81, or 18.7% higher than the average. The borough is only 2.3% higher than the average when comparing capital expenditures with the other communities. However, capital expenditures vary significantly from one year to the next based on the projects planned for each community, therefore, making it difficult to determine an accurate comparison. Budgeting Process To properly develop a good budget, it is imperative to analyze the previous year’s revenues and expenditures taking into account the economic conditions at the time, and seek input from as many sources as possible, including employees. Budget expenditure considerations include: 1. Projected revenues from various sources 2. Proposed program expenses 3. Staff expenses 4. Park expenses such as utilities, maintenances supplies, and equipment This process is followed in Franklin Park Borough by the department heads. The Recreation Director and the Manager of Golf Course and Sports Fields develop the operating and capital budgets for their respective departments and present them to the Borough Manager. After meeting with the manager, a

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final draft is developed and presented to the finance committee. After discussions, the Borough Council establishes the final budget and formally approves the budget at the public meeting in December. Funding Sources Most communities are able to charge user fees to defray recreation program costs. Fees and charges are perhaps one of the best methods to cover programming costs. Through user fees, those participating in the programs or utilizing the facilities are supporting the recreational opportunities rather than using tax dollars. The fees charged for a program should cover both the direct and indirect costs of that program and preferably provide for a profit. Utilizing outside instructors to supervise programs provides opportunities for individuals with specialized interests and talents to share them with the community, thereby, providing programs that municipal staff and/or parks and recreation committees could not otherwise offer. For this type of programming, the instructors receive 70% of the program cost and the municipality receives 30%. Some programs may be planned and supervised by the parks and recreation committee or by municipal staff. These programs can be offered at a lower fee or they may retain a comparable fee and the municipality receives a larger profit. A written revenue policy should be developed by the manager and council to establish a framework for setting fees and charges for both the programs and facilities. Rental of facilities and areas in parks also produces revenues for the borough. These facilities can provide a significant revenue source. The following rental facilities provide additional revenues that help maintain the facilities in a quality condition. Picnic Pavilions –

The picnic shelters at Linbrook currently generate minimal revenues. However, when these facilities are upgrade or new shelter developed consideration should be given to including water, electric, a small kitchen area, and possible restrooms within the facilities. These are desirable features and would require a higher rental fee than is currently being charged for the existing shelters. The pavilion at Blueberry is rented most weekend days from late spring through early fall and generates a significant amount of revenues.

Activity Center –

Besides the numerous programs that held at this facility that generate Revenues, rentals provide a constant stream of revenues throughout the year.

Sport fields -

Are rented to adult leagues, a home school group, and at times other groups for clinics, and other events. The sports organizations are also required to pay for use of the fields, but they are often able to offset the fees through improvements they make at these facilities.

Sand volleyball courts – These courts have had a considerable amount of rental over the years; however, since the lights were installed at these courts, rental has increased significantly. Consideration should be given to increasing the rental fee/ or adding another court. Other sources of revenue can be generated at concession stands, vending machines or video games. These areas can provide some revenues, but generally not large amounts and can require some effort on the part of the park. If the park provides areas for these things, they need to be located in a visible location to deter vandalism.

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Grants are perhaps one of the best sources of obtaining alternative funding for parks and recreation to supplement the monies needed to improve park and recreation opportunities in the community. There are many grants available from various government agencies and from numerous foundations. It does take time to research the various grants and foundations, and a thorough knowledge of your project is necessary to write a grant that will be funded. It is recommended that the person responsible for writing grants attend grant seminars and workshops that are offered in western Pennsylvania. The format of some of the grants change yearly requiring a continual update through the workshops offered. Appendix B, pages B.1 - B.5, lists numerous grants that are available. Foundations are another source of funding that may provide additional resources for park facilities and various programs that may be offered. Many foundations establish specific types of projects they will fund, and specified locations as to where the project must be located. There are generally four types of foundations: (1) private family foundations; (2) community foundations; (3) national foundations; and (4) operating foundations. Appendix B pages B.6 - B.8 lists numerous foundations that may provide funding. Sponsorships are another excellent way to obtain additional monetary funds to enhance programs. Franklin Park has successfully used sponsorships in the past to help fund certain programs, such as; the Festival in the Park, and the Scholarship Golf Outing. The borough should continue to use sponsorships for these programs and seek additional sponsorship for other future programs, as needed. It does take some time and effort to develop a quality brochure that readily explains the program they will be sponsoring, the benefits to sponsoring the program, the visibility of their sponsorship, and how it will improve their image. Obtaining business sponsorships can be easy if you are well prepared to sell the opportunity to the business. Many businesses look for an opportunity to get their business name in front of people, get involved in the community, and create a positive image. In order to obtain these sponsorships an enticing program must be put together in a professional manner and properly presented. Some businesses will buy into this at a high level right away, while others will start at the lower levels and increase to higher levels as they see the benefits paying off. Therefore, you must continually improve your efforts and show the businesses the value derived from sponsoring your events. Seeking donations is a part of almost every recreation endeavor. Franklin Park has received donations for several of the past programs. These donations have aided in making these program more successful. The borough should continue to seek donations, however, it can be time consuming, but it can also be rewarding. Whether it is monetary donations, gifts, supplies, or some other type of donation, it provides additional value to the program. It is a benefit to the businesses by providing a tax advantage, and providing a positive public image. Seeking donations will always be a part of recreation. By utilizing volunteers to help locate donations, staff can devote more time to other more productive areas. School Specialty is a resource for purchasing over 100,000 products that can be used in providing recreation programs. Even though they are predominately for schools, purchases can be made for recreation programming. School Specialty works with Donor’s and Adopt-a-Classroom to collect donations on your behalf and facilitate the process of getting materials. Utilizing this opportunity on your own or in partnership with the school districts could provide materials needed for various programs. Fundraising can generate additional funds for projects or programs. Don’t think small when planning a fund raising project. There are many different types of fundraisers to consider. So, it must first be

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determined what is to be accomplished and what will work in the borough. The fundraiser will take considerable time and planning to be successful, but it can be very rewarding by providing a community event and generating money for the recreation programs or facilities. Many of the grants that are available are for feasibility studies, planning and implementation, acquisition, or development. These are great grants to be awarded to your community; however, it is just as important to run programs. It is often difficult to locate grants or other funding sources that will provide financial assistance for programs and equipment. Many of the funding sources listed below will provide financial support, equipment, or other program resources to help start a specific program or supplement supplies needed for an existing program. It is important to thoroughly research the sources you are interest in pursuing to determine their requirements to obtain the resources they have available. This is a good way to get some programs started without a lot of capital outlay for equipment or other information needed to offer a program. Appendix B page B.9 provides a list of other potential funding sources that can be accessed for various programs or projects. Mandatory Dedication Mandatory dedication of land is a way that the municipalities can fund open space or park projects. In the mid 1990’s Franklin Park Borough adopted a mandatory dedication/fee-in-lieu of ordinance which has generated significant revenues to enhance recreation facilities in the borough. As the borough further develops, the need for additional open space or the development of existing park areas to meet the expanding needs of the community will be eminent. The use of these fees and/or the acceptance of land will help in meeting the needs. It is important know the requirements for administering a mandatory dedication/fee-in-lieu of ordinance. The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) Act 170 Section 503 (11) provides special direct authority for a municipality to require a developer to dedicate land to the public that is suitable for intended park and recreation purposes. This has become a viable source of income for municipalities to acquire land or obtain additional revenues to further the provision of recreation in their communities. Under the current statute for park or recreation purposes, if the applicant and municipality agree, a municipality may accept from the developer: 1. Payment of fees in lieu of dedication of land; 2. The construction of recreational facilities; 3. Private reservation of land; or, 4. A combination of the above. Along with the ordinance, certain legal obligations are imposed on the borough in order to use these provisions. To successfully implement a mandatory dedication ordinance the following components are needed based on section 503 of the Municipal Planning Code: Section 503. Contents of Subdivision and Land Develop Ordinance. The subdivision and land development ordinance includes, but need is not be limited to: (11) Provisions requiring the public dedication of land suitable for the use intended; and, upon agreement with the applicant or developer, the construction of recreational facilities, the payment of fees in lieu thereof, the private reservation of the land, or a combination, for park or recreation purposes as a condition precedent to final plan approval, provided that: (i)

The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any plan application, whether preliminary or final, pending at the time of enactment of such provisions.

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(ii) (iii) (iv)

(v)

(vi)

(vii)

(viii)

The ordinance includes definite standards for determining the proportion of a development to be dedicated and the amount of any fee to be paid in lieu thereof. The land or fees, or combination thereof, are to be used only for the purpose of providing park or recreational facilities accessible to the development. The governing body has a formally adopted recreation plan, and the park and recreational facilities are in accordance with definite principles and standards contained in the subdivision and land development ordinance. The amount and location of land to be dedicated or the fees to be paid shall bear a reasonable relationship to the use of the park and recreational facilities by future inhabitants of the development or subdivision. A fee authorized under this subsection shall, upon its receipt by a municipality, be deposited in an interest-bearing account, clearly identifying the specific recreation facilities for which the fee was received. Interest earned on such accounts shall become funds of that account. Funds from such accounts shall be expended only in properly allocable portions of the cost incurred to construct the specific recreation facilities for which the funds were collected. Upon request of any person who paid any fee under this subsection, the municipality shall refund such fee, plus interest accumulated thereon from the date of payment, if the municipality had failed to utilize the fee paid for the purposes set forth in this section within three years from the date such fee was paid. No municipality shall have the power to require the construction of recreational facilities or the dedication of land, or fees in lieu thereof, or private reservation except as may be provided by statute.

The Borough Council, Planning Commission, and Recreation Departments should periodically hold a joint meeting to assure that the coordination of the recreation plan components are in line with the community recreation needs and the implementation of the provisions calling for park and recreation facilities through the subdivision and land development administrative process. The fee-in lieu of should be visited regularly to determine if it should be increased. As the borough grows, the park and recreation staff should be involved with the development of new subdivisions. This will ensure that dedicated land meets the ordinance requirements or that the fees collected can properly be designated.

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CHAPTER 9 RECREATION PROGRAM Analysis

CHAPTER 9 PROGRAMS RECREATION PROGRAMS Franklin Park Borough has a variety of public, private, and quasi-public entities that provide various forms of recreational activities for residents of the area and beyond. Franklin Park has partnered with many of these entities to further recreational opportunities in the community in the past; there are more opportunities in the future. These partnership opportunities have created a win-win situation for the residents of the Borough and for each of the entities. These partnerships should be continued. The following table lists the recreation providers in the Franklin Park or closely associated with Franklin Park. There are many other types of recreation providers in the North Hills area that residents utilize their services. Table 26 – Community Recreation Resources Name of Facility

Programs

Clover Hill Golf Course RANP

Golfing, Tournaments, Putting Green, Golf Programs Partnership programs with surrounding communities Summer Reading, Fitness, Storytime, Area History, Special Needs Programs, Teen Advisory Group, Festival in the Park, Book Group, Many Others Fitness and weight-loss facility Farm Market, numerous variety of programs, plus rental facilities for parties Various programs & classes

Northland Library

Curves Soergel’s Orchard Kaelin’s Farm Market Franklin Park Fire Department Franklin Park Police Baierl Family YMCA Millvale Sportsmen’s Club

Sportsmen’s Night, Fish Fry, Light Up Celebration D.A.R.E., Self Defense, Bullying & Harassment, Self-Awareness, Finger Printing, Participation in the Festival in the Park Summer Camps, Specialty Camps, Body Sculpting, Boot Camps, Cycling, Kettleball, Kick Boxing, Line Dancing, Water Aerobics, Pilates, Zumba, & more Clubhouse, pavilion, fishing lake, rifle range, pistol range skeet range, trap range, archery range

Age & Sex Served Youth – Adult, Both Youth – Adult, Both Infant – Adult, Both

Program Fee Varies Varies Mostly Free

Adult Women Infant – Adult, Both Youth – Adult, Both All

Fee Varies

Youth – Adult, Both

Free

All Ages, Both

Varies

Teen – Adult, Both

Membership

Varies Varies

Recreation Resources The following groups were interviewed to determine their vision for the future through enhancing opportunities to increase and improve recreation in the Borough. See Table 28, page 9.3 for a quick glance at their responses. Recreation Board Since its inception, the Franklin Park Recreation Board has been a vital part of planning, organizing, and development of the parks and programs in the Borough. Over the next ten years they envision this to continue as their mission, especially through the enhancement of both

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existing and new programs. Two primary areas that they would like to concentrate on are: (1) the development of more programs and facilities for teens; and (2) the development of more programs for seniors, including more of their use of the activity center. Additional facilities that the recreation board recommends for development includes: walking trails, bike trails, a splash park, a dog park, and tennis, pickleball courts. Recreation Alliance of North Pittsburgh (RANP) The Recreation Alliance of North Pittsburgh is the collection of communities in the North Hills that has recreation department directors that partner together to provide additional recreation programming for the residents of the North Hills. Numerous programs have been offered by this group over the years including trips; Pitch, Hit, & Run; Hershey Track & Field; Punt, Pass, & Kick; Movies in the Park; Recreation Month Celebration; AARP Safe Driving Class; and Special Needs Family Fun Day. RANP is planning on adding new joint programs in the future, including potentially working with both Allegheny and Butler counties’ parks and recreation department. RANP has also developed a shared information guide where each director shares new information that they obtain in multiple areas. This has assisted the other communities in quickly locating information they may need, including programming ideas; current and new trends in programs and facilities, and potential grant opportunities. Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) The EAC is a vital entity in helping to form and preserve the Borough as an environmentally friendly community. In their effort to achieve their goals, EAC members are very interested in working with both the park and the programming departments to ensure environmental issues in these areas are addressed. They would like to assist in the area of education through the identification of trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, and other flora through the use of placards posted in the open park areas and the development of self-guided nature trails. The recent recreation survey indicated that outdoor education is one of the top rated areas of interest for our residents. The EAC is interested in helping to develop and instruct environmental programs such as stream protection, wildflower and tree identification, and other similar programs to help meet this need. The residents also indicated an interest in learning about flower, vegetable, and herb gardening. The EAC feels that the Borough should offer programs in these areas. Other areas that the EAC would like the Borough to further consider developing are: posting nature information, nature photography, trailhead signs, Mel Lubert Nature Preserve, and tennis courts. Teens As part of this study two of the Borough teens distributed a questionnaire that was designed specifically for teenagers. Twenty-seven questionnaires were returned representing teens ages thirteen through eighteen, with the majority being in the thirteen to fourteen age groups. Of these, only six indicated that they currently are using the borough parks. The main reasons for not using the parks are a lack of time and not being interested in the existing facilities. The teens indicated that they would like to see better tennis courts, a pool, better sports fields, mountain bike trails, skate park, a foam pit, a teen center, and golf driving range. Concerning programs, only three indicated that they have participated in sports programs, the festival, and the bonfire. Those who haven’t participated indicated a lack of time and knowledge of the programs. They indicated that various forms of social media, newsletters, and school advertising would help to inform them about the parks and programs. Programs that would interest them would include: acting classes, dance classes, skating lessons, social events, teen events, such as, a teen meet-and-greet. Since this is one of the most difficult groups to program for, an effort should be made to work with the teens to develop programs and facilities that will meet their needs.

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TABLE 27 – INTERVIEW SUMMARIES Interviewed

Programs

Recreation Board

More teen programs More senior programs

Environmental Advisory Council

Environmental programs Gardening programs Photography

Recreation Alliance of North Pittsburgh

Summer camps Rex Art Camp Tennis Technical programs Family outdoor programs Pet programs – dogs Recycling/refurbishing program Friday Fun Night for Singles Stroller Babies Home Schoolers Program Soccer Golf

Facilities Walking trails Bike trail Splash park Dog park Tennis courts Have the Activity Center open more often for teens & seniors Trail head signs Develop Mel Lubert Nature Preserve Watch fertilization Tennis Courts

Splash Park Trails Dog Park

Partnership Opportunities Enhancement of existing programs Development of new programs

Identification of trees, shrubs, etc. Developing an environmental program Developing self-guided nature trails Developing nature related information Golf Programs Moraine Winterfest AARP Driving Program Social Night Movies Trips Current sports offerings

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Interviewed YMCA

Programs Kindersoccer Special Needs Festival Track Adult softball

Facilities Dek Hockey Pickleball Access to fields

Partnership Opportunities Special Needs Program Special Events Coordination Young Children’s Sports Summer Camps Fishing Program Dive in Movie Disc Golf Pickleball Adventure Programs Working with Asian Population Trips Tenting Working with the community & churches to better inform about the dangers of drug use Health related programs Become a bigger part of the community Use of social media

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Interviewed Northland Library

Programs Book Group, Tai Chi, Participation in the Festival in the Park, Storytime in the Park, History in the Park

Facilities Outdoor Classroom, utilization of existing and new facilities for programs, passive recreation areas

Partnership Opportunities Program Promotion Special Needs Programs Improving Festival in the Park Eco-Adventure Program Scanning History Party Early Literacy Program Speaker Programs AARP Programs Senior Programs Teen Programs Knitting Book Discussion Wine Tasting Sign Language Classes utilizing I-Pads & QR Codes Read the Book before the Movie Intergenerational Storytime Summer Reading Club Chess Tournament Parks Day – Do You Know Your Parks Coordinate History Geocaching Focus on Education Group Activities Outdoor Classroom Programs

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Interviewed Key Persons

Programs Programs for individuals/singles Job networking Men’s Softball & Basketball Programs More Preschool Programs More Toddler Programs More activities for toddlers at the Festival

Facilities Dog Park Continue to develop park areas Tennis Courts Trails for walking dogs Basketball Courts

Partnership Opportunities Communication Group outings

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Northland Library Franklin Park Borough and the Northland Library have coordinated programming efforts for many years, such as book group, Tai Chi, Festival in the Park, Storytime in the Park, and History in the Park. The library staff has indicated a strong desire to further develop these programming opportunities in the Borough through the utilization of their staff resources, existing programs they offer, resource connections they have available, and coordination of marketing these programs. They would like to help enhance teen and senior programming, as well as programming for all ages. Baierl Family YMCA Franklin Park Borough and the YMCA have partnered together for many years to assist each other in offering various programs and facilities for the residents of the Borough. Some of these opportunities have included family swim night, kindersoccer, special needs family fun day, trips, and the use of various facilities in the parks. The YMCA is extremely interested in further developing this relationship in order to serve more people, be a bigger part of the community, and help people become healthier. They are very open to meeting with borough staff to develop more programs and help enhance existing programs. Sports Organizations Franklin Park Borough has a number of youth sport associations that serve the area very well and utilize some of the facilities located in the borough’s parks. They provide valuable service to the community through their provision of a variety of youth activities through volunteer efforts. See Table 29, page 9.9 for more details about the following organizations. Ingomar/Franklin Park Athletic Association (IFPAA) The Ingomar/Franklin Park Athletic Association runs a baseball, softball, and Challenger program for youth of part of the North Allegheny School District. Approximately 1100 boys and girls from age four through age nineteen are involved in this program each year. The association conducts both a spring and fall program, and occasional clinics. The IFPAA Challenger Program is a unique program that provides an opportunity for school-aged children (up to age 21), with special needs to participate in baseball, soccer, and basketball year round. North Allegheny Little League (NALL) NALL has approximately 50 – 100 participants in their little league baseball program. They offer both a spring and fall session for boys. Plans are to begin a softball program in 2015. North Allegheny Lacrosse (LAX) Lacrosse is a club sport associated with the North Allegheny School District. The LAX program has approximately 160 – 170 participants each year from March through June. Although the program is geared towards boys, there have been some girls that have participated. North Allegheny Soccer Club (NASC) The North Allegheny Soccer Club organizes a soccer program for children ages 6-18 who attend, or live within the boundaries of the North Allegheny School District. This program involves approximately 1000 boys and girls and has enjoyed steady participation annually. NASC operates a fall and a spring soccer program. The fall program runs from the end of August

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through the end of October, and the spring program runs from the end of March to the beginning of June. Tiger Pride Football Tiger Pride football is available to children who live within the North Allegheny School District. This program involves approximately 100 boys playing football, and 80 girls cheerleading, ages six to twelve. Team practice begins in early August, and the season ends at the end of October. Games are played on Saturdays. The season consists of five away games and five home games played on the Tiger Pride Football field in Blueberry Hill Park. The facility is one of the best youth football fields in the area. Pittsburgh Cricket Association Franklin Park Borough has one of the two cricket fields that are currently available in western Pennsylvania. This sport has really grown since its inception in 2004 with approximately 320 adult male players or eighteen teams in 2014. The association’s season runs from April through October. Plans are to restart the North Hills Knights Cricket Association again in 2015 for youth ages 6 – 15; both boys and girls will be eligible. Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society The Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society helped to develop the disc golf course at Linbrook Park. The society has 144 member; however not all of them have played at the Linbrook Park course. The sport is geared towards those ages 16 to 60 plus. It is a year round activity, but competitive playing is primarily between April through October. Joint Summer Recreation Program for School-Age Children Franklin Park Borough, in cooperation with the Town of McCandless, Bradford Woods Borough, Marshall Township, and the North Allegheny School District, sponsor a six-week summer recreation program. This program has been in existence since 1971 and has provided the youth of the North Allegheny School District with an opportunity to participate in arts and crafts, games, sports, and playground activities at a very reasonable cost. The following organizations offer additional recreational programming in their specific areas, but do not utilize Borough facilities. North Allegheny Basketball Association (NABA) NABA provides an in-house program, which enables students to have fun learning and playing basketball in a less-competitive setting. The program is centered on clinics, team practices, and league games. The NABA program starts in late October with clinics for the lower level groups and is run by coaches of the North Allegheny School District. These clinics are not mandatory but are there for the benefit of its members so kids who are just beginning basketball receive good instruction on learning various basketball skills and drills. For the lower levels (Grades 3-6), the program then runs from November to the end of January. For our upper levels (Grades 7-12), the program runs from December to the end of February.

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League Cricket

# of Participants 306

Table 28 - Sports Organizations Summary Serves Season Suggested Improvements Adult Men

April - October

Start childrens cricket Install concrete under pitch mat Construct another cricket field Restrooms Tennis courts Improve softball field Remove some trees

IFPAA

1100

Girls & Boys - 4 to 19

April - July Sept. - Oct.

Asphalt under bleachers & player benches Asphalt parking area & concession area Water at Blueberry fields #3 & #4 Redo Snack shack siding Stain wooden dugouts & announcers booths Install hydroblox Blueberry Field #1 & #4 Fencing repairs & enhancements Need a major league field 90' bases & 60' 5" mound Storage area at Blueberry & Linbrook Restrooms at Blurberry & Linbrook Field House Replace Electrical building at Blueberry Basketball program Add a Sand Volleyball Court Educational programs Senior programs

NA Lacrosse

160-170

Boys: 6 thru 15

March - June

improve netting at Snack Shack on field #3 improve netting pony field foul lines New picnic tables Improve drainage in upper field Reestablish path behind east fence Place pad on telephone pole

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Reduce speed on entrance road Need: storage, bleachers, concession stand, shelter, fencing & restrooms indoor and outdoor synthetic turf area Build a bike/walking trail along Wexford Run Rd Linbrook Park needs water, sewage & electricity

NA Little League

50 - 100

Boys: 6 thur 15

April - July Sept - October

NA Soccer

1000

580 - boys 4 thru 18 420 - girls 4 thru 18

April & May Sept - October

Tiger Pride

180

6 thru 12

Mid-July thru Nov 1st

Would like to use Football Field in Blueberry Borough Field at West View Water needs attention Need larger field & grass infield Update concession stand at Blueberry Need additional restrooms Need: indoor basketball, water park, swimming pool tennis, pickleball, platform tennis, scooter park, boys & girls summer basketball leagues Adjust lacrosse netting to improve safety Need additional soccer field Make soccer part of summer program Restroom/port-a-johns Storage area and pavilion Link soccer website to boro website Bathrooms Improve announcer's booth Jogging trail outside lower practice field fence Would like to see spring football clinic

Disc Golf*

144

*Unlike other leagues, Disc Golf has no cotnractual relationship with Franklin Park Borough

All Ages

April thru Nov

Would like to see the 9 hole course expanded to 18 holes & better maintenance of course Also, tees completed, tee signs, bulletin board with course map, restrooms, public water, electricity to pavilion, dog park, community gardens and farmers market

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Allegheny North Swim Club Allegheny North Swim Club is a competitive swim team that is open to youth 6 years of age up to and including college age that attend North Allegheny Schools or live within the school district boundary. Swimmers compete individually, not as a team, and try-outs are required. North Allegheny Rowing Association (NARA) The mission of the North Allegheny Rowing Association is to promote a competitive rowing program for the school district's high school students that embody the central elements of sportsmanship and ethics through the principals of respect, trustworthiness, responsibility, fairness and good citizenship. NARA also emphasize character building and personal growth through winning and losing with dignity and self-control. North Allegheny Tigers Junior Wrestling Association (NATJWA) North Allegheny Junior Wrestling offers instruction and competitive activities for wrestlers from 1st thru 6th grade. All wrestlers are grouped by age, height and experience levels to ensure a rewarding and instructional season. NATJWA seeks to instill in the youth of our community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect so that they may grow to be good and healthy men. These objectives are achieved by providing a competitive and developmental wrestling experience. The attainment of exceptional athletic skills or the winning of the match is secondary to the primary goal of molding responsible and healthy men. NATJWA provides wrestling opportunities for children who are residents of the North Allegheny School District. North Pittsburgh Youth Hockey Association (NPYHA) Founded in 1991, North Pittsburgh Youth Hockey Association is a non-profit of some 400 families who come together each year to offer our youth a chance to play the great game of ice hockey. With 20+ travel teams, 5 development programs, and more than 500 players, they have become one of the largest youth hockey organizations in Western PA. NPYHA mission is to provide our players with a competitive and complete youth hockey experience. They believe every player’s hockey experience should include improvement in fundamental hockey skills as well as life lessons learned through the team experience. Pittsburgh North Park Crusaders The Pittsburgh North Park Crusaders were formed in 2011 by coaches from the Pittsburgh Harlequins Rugby Football Association. The team is made up of players from (6) different high schools in the North Hills region of Pittsburgh and Eastern Ohio. The club is a member of the RugbyPA State-Based Rugby Organization (SBRO) for Pennsylvania in the western region. Miracle League of Western PA (MLSWPA) The Miracle League of Southwestern Pennsylvania was formed in January 2007 and is dedicated to providing the opportunity for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities to play organized baseball. In addition to organizing a league for special needs children and adults, the MLSWPA built a facility that meets the unique needs of this special group of children and adults. The MLSWPA is affiliated with the National Miracle League Baseball organization.

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Other youth organizations that offer programs in the area, but do not utilize borough facilities include: i9 Sports i9 Sports offers youth sports leagues, camps, and clinics for boys and girls ages 3-17 in today’s most popular sports such as flag football, soccer, basketball, T-Ball and cheerleading. Their focus is on fun, safety, convenience and good sportsmanship, i9 Sports is reinventing the youth sports experience for families across the country. N-Zone Sports N-Zone provides youth sports programs that are a fun, safe, and rewarding experience for all who participate. They feel that all kids should get to play the sports they love, and focus on building sportsmanship and teamwork in a supportive environment. N-Zone’s programs allow the child to strengthen sports fundamentals and develop their skills while also building character and confidence that will help them in future athletic endeavors and throughout their lives. Soccer Shots Soccer Shots is the leader in youth soccer development for children ages 2-8. They are focused on positively impacting children’s lives and the communities we serve. They are teaching principles and life skills like confidence, respect, honesty, and teamwork. They are a national organization of caring individuals positively impacting children’s lives through memorable and engaging experiences through the game of soccer. Adult Sports Following is a list of organizations that provide recreational opportunities for adults in the North Hills area; Warrendale Men’s Softball Bladerunners Ice Hockey Pure Athletex Tennis Millvale Sportsmen’s Club Northside Sportsmen’s Association Three Rivers Rowing Association Pittsburgh Rowing Association

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PROGRAMS & PARTICIPATION TRENDS Table 29 –Program Analysis Program Active/ Competitive/ Passive Non- Competitive Active

Non- Competitive

Individual / Group Group

Passive

Non-Competitive

Group

Both

Passive

Non-Competitive

Group

Both

Active

Non-Competitive

Group

Both

Perennial Exchange Fizz, Boom, Read

Active

Non-Competitive

Group

Both

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Youth Adult Youth Adult Youth Adult Youth Adult Preschool

Tot Dance Class

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Toddlers

Preschool Dance

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Preschool

Smart Start Baseball Start Smart Sports Development Summer Playground

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Preschool

Educational & Physical Educational & Physical Physical

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Preschool

Physical

$95

Active

Non-Competitive

Group

Both

Preschool

Social

$55

Little Tikes Ultimate Sports Parks & Rec. Month Celebration Start Smart Golf Start Smart Tennis Fancy Nancy Camp T-Birds T-Ball Hummingbirds Soccer Deck Hockey Funky Dance Combo Class

Active

Non-Competitive

Group

Both

Preschool

Physical

$60

Active

Non-Competitive

Group

Both

13 & younger

Physical

$2

Active Active Passive

Non-Competitive Non-Competitive Non-Competitive

Individual Individual Individual

Both Both Girls

Youth Youth Youth

Physical Physical Social

$81 $81 $50

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Preschool

Physical

$65

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Preschool

Physical

$60

Active Active

Non-Competitive Non-Competitive

Group Individual

Both Both

Youth Youth

Physical Physical

$60 $65

Arbor Day Program Backyard Composting Rain Barrel Workshop Wildflower Hike

Sex

Ages

Experiences

Fee

Both

6 - 12

Social

Free

Educational

$50

Educational

$50

Educational

Free

Educational

Free

Educational

Free $50 $65 $76

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Young Champions Cheerleading Ready, Set, Run Champions Flag Football Pioneer Living – Hands on History Jr. Sand Volleyball

Active

Competitive

Individual

Both

Youth

Physical

$7/class

Active Active

Non-Competitive Competitive

Individual Group

Both Both

Youth Youth

Physical Physical

$85 $80

Active

Non-Competitive

Group

Both

Youth

Educational

$40

Active

Competitive

Group

Both

Youth

Physical

$65

Ultimate Sports & Recreation Tennis for Beginners FPS Game Design –1 Day FPS Game Design Mindcraft 1-Day Mindcraft 3D Design & Print Ultimate Mindcraft Map Creation Mobile Game Design Fashion Workshop Karate Ultimate EcoAdventure Ultimate EcoAdventure Camp II Broadway Camps

Active

Competitive

Group

Both

Youth

Physical

$145

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Youth

Physical

$55

Passive

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Youth

Educational

$100

Passive Passive Passive

Non-Competitive Non-Competitive Non-Competitive

Individual Individual Individual

Both Both Both

Youth Youth Youth

Educational Educational Educational

$185 $45 $220

Passive

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Youth

Educational

$185

Passive

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Youth

Educational

$185

Passive Active Active

Non- Competitive Non-Competitive Non-Competitive

Individual Individual Group

Girls Both Both

Youth Youth Youth

$30 $32 $90

Active

Non-Competitive

Group

Both

Youth

Educational Physical Physical & Educational Physical 7 Educational

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Youth

$225

Horseback Riding Summer Camp Pitch, Hit, & Run Hershey Track & Field Aikido

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Active Active

Competitive Competitive

Individual Individual

Both Both

Youth Adult Youth Youth

Educational & Social Educational Physical Physical

Free Free

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Adult

Physical

Line Dancing Paint Night Puppy Kindergarten Adult Dog training Fitness in the Park

Active Passive Active

Non-Competitive Non-Competitive Non-Competitive

Group Individual Group

Both Both Both

Adult Adult Adult

Physical Educational Educational

$30/mo nth $42 $45 $85

Active Active

Non-Competitive Non-Competitive

Group Individual

Both Women

Adult Adult

Educational Physical

$85 $140

$90

$260

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Leslie Sansone’s Walk “Live” Over the Blueberry Hill Gang Piloxing LaBlast Just a Walk in the Park Derby Day Celebration AARP Safe Driving Class Popcorn Tuesdays – Concerts in the Park Movies in the Park Lunch with the Easter Bunny Easter Egg Hunt Special Needs Family Fun Festival in the Park Halloween Costume Party Dress-A-Pet Costume Duo Holiday Craft Fair Lunch with Santa Light Up Celebration

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Physical

$78

Both

Youth Adult Seniors

Passive

Non-Competitive

Group

Entertaining

$15/year

Active Active Active

Non-Competitive Non-Competitive Non-Competitive

Individual Individual Individual

Both Both Both

Adults Adults Adults

Physical Physical Physical

$32 $32 Free

Passive

Non-Competitive

Group

Both

Seniors

Social

$8

Passive

Non-Competitive

Group

Both

Seniors

Educational

$15

Passive

Non-Competitive

Group

Both

All

Entertaining

Free

Passive Passive

Non-Competitive Non-Competitive

Family Family

Both Both

All All

Entertaining Social

Free $6

Active

Competitive

Family

Both

Physical

Free

Active

Non-Competitive

Individual

Both

Toddlers - Youth All

Free

Active

Non-Competitive

Family

Both

All

Social & Physical Entertaining

Active

Competitive

Family

Both

All

Social

Free

Active

Competitive

Family

Both

All

Social

Free

Passive Passive Passive

Non-Competitive Non-Competitive Non-Competitive

Individual Family Group

Both Both Both

All All All

Social Social Social

Free $7 Donation

Free

Program participation trends in Franklin Park Borough have remained relatively steady for the past five years. There are virtually no programs for children under three years old. According to several comments in the recreation survey, residents would like to have some programs available for these children. Programs for three to five years old experienced a steady attendance level or a slight increase. Most of the programs for this age group have a maximum attendance level which limits a larger increase in the participation rate. With the 2010 census indicating a 22.1% increase in Borough residents under five, there is a definite need to increase programming for these children. By providing quality programs at a reasonable cost for children at this early age, the Borough will ensure their continued participation as they get older. Youth ages five to twelve for the most part saw a steady participation rate in most of the programs offered. Although some programs experience an increase while others saw a slight decrease. Those seeing an increase were primarily due to the popularity of the programs, while those experiencing a decrease may be attributed to several franchise organizations offering similar type

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programs. There were only a few programs available for teens ages thirteen to seventeen. This is a difficult age group to provide programs for that will interest them. As indicated on the teen surveys and the recreation surveys, programs for this age group need to be developed and communicated specifically to them so that they are aware of the programs. The best method for reaching this age group is to involve them directly in the planning process to develop programs to meet their needs. According to the 2010 census, there was an increase of 20.3% for those in the five to seventeen age groups. This indicates a strong need to continue developing quality programs for the five to twelve year olds and programs that will retain the interest of the thirteen to seventeen year olds. The sports programs offered for these age groups have also seen variations in the number of participants. Several reasons affect the participation rates in both programs and sport activities: 1. The number of sport programs and the number of entities offering various programs has increased. After a significant drop, baseball/softball has seen a slight increase in numbers. Soccer has remained relatively steady, while football has experienced a drop in participation possibly due to the concern of a potential concussion. Lacrosse has been experiencing a growth in the number of participants. 2. Parents have to pick and choose the activity or activities that their child will participate in without overextending them. 3. The economy may play a role in determining how much a parent can afford to spend on activities for their children. According to the 2010 census, the 18 - 44 age group only experienced a .7% increase, while the 45 – 64 age group experienced a 29.7% increase. Programs for these age groups were minimal. According to the recreation survey, there were three factors contributing to their lack of participation in existing programs for their age: 1. Lack of knowledge about the programs. 2. Lack of available time due to work schedules. 3. Scheduling conflicts with other family commitments. Therefore, in order to program for these age groups there needs to be: 1. Better communication concerning available programs. 2. Scheduling of programs in the evening and on weekends when they are available. 3. Determining the type of programs that will best meet their needs. Some suggestions include: men’s, women’s, or co-ed softball, basketball, or volleyball programs, introduction to disc golf program, various fitness programs, and more family oriented programs. Currently there are very few senior programs available. According to the 2010 census there was a 36.0% increase in the 65 plus age group. This along with the results from the recreation survey indicates a definite need for more programming in this area. This is especially important for several reasons: 1. The baby boomers are all entering this age group. 2. Many seniors are more active than seniors from the past. 3. Many in this age group may have more expendable resources than in the past. 4. The construction of garden style and other downsize homes in the Borough may be attractive to people in this age group. Some programs that may be considered are: senior game time, both indoor and outdoor games; more senior socials; senior fitness; walking program; educational programming in numerous areas, such as flower and vegetable gardening, cooking, canning, knitting, crocheting, etc.; and card games.

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In general, all recreation departments find that some programs are successful while others are not. This is not uncommon, as it does take time to develop a successful program schedule, which Franklin Park Borough has done a good job in this area. However, it is important to offer a variety of programs building on those that are successful, eliminating those that lack participation, and continually offering new programs. Following is a list of reasons why some programs are successful, while others are not. 

Timing is perhaps the most important aspect in making programs successful. A program that is not successful in one season may be very successful, if offered, in another, or even at another time of the day or week. You must continue to offer programs until you find the right combination.



Trends vs. Fads also affect the success of a program. Trends are things that are popular, but may not have caught on in the community yet. It may be popular in the community in the near future. Fads are things that may have already passed by or may not have reached the community yet. Following is a list of current trends/fads that should be watched to potentially include as part of the Borough’s programming and facility development:  Progressive Pump Tracks  Soccer Golf  Sand Soccer  Gaga Ball  Triangle Ball  Mob Races  Technical Programs  Spike Ball Other areas growing in popularity that are relatively new and some from the past are:  Kickball  Dodgeball  Ultimate Frisbee  Pickleball  Wallyball  Geocaching  Disc Golf  Dog Parks  Splash Parks



Instructors are very important to the success of your program. Your instructor’s enthusiasm, attitude and style may make or break your program. So seek out quality instructors for your programs and promote them and their qualifications.



Publicity and promotion are extremely important. Many excellent programs have poor attendance because no one knew about them because they were not properly publicized. Use every method available to get the word out.



Program fees can affect the attendance at a program. Know your community and what they can afford to pay for the programs. You must determine if you want to cover just

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the direct costs, both the direct and the indirect costs, or make a profit. Charging too much can deter people, while not charging enough can make them feel that it isn’t a quality program. 

Location of the program may affect the success. Is there easy access to the program site? Is the facility or area well maintained? Is it a safe location? Is it well lighted if the program is an evening program?



Weather is a major factor in recreation programming. Outdoor programs may be affected by weather conditions which determine if the program can be conducted. However, indoor programs can be affected by people thinking it might be too hot or too cold or it may be snowing and they may not want to attend the event.

These are some of the main areas that must be taken into consideration when planning programs. Participation trends in the programs can be affected by any one of these or a combination of them. A successful program and continued success of that program will depend on each of these areas and potentially other areas being considered. They must be considered from the inception of the program, through the execution, and at the final evaluation of the program. ANALYSIS & DEFICIENCIES Franklin Park Borough currently offers a variety of different programs for the community at a reasonable cost. There are a considerable number of programs for toddler through grade school age. It is common in most communities to have the heaviest programming for these age groups. Consideration should be given to offering more programs to those ages 12 to 15. At this age they will still participate in programs, but it becomes more difficult to provide activities that they are interested in. Programs that this age group may be interested in are: running programs, adventure programs, biking, or specialized programs designed for their age group. Programs for those 16 through 17 are needed, but they are the most difficult age group to reach. The most successful programs for this age group are generally programs that these participants help to develop and promote. Another area that both of these age groups will often participate in, is volunteer opportunities. They are often willing to help with programs for younger children, for special events, or for special needs programs. The 18 to 59 age group is going through different phases in their lives, which include college classes, finding jobs, starting families, providing for their families, paying college tuition, etc. It is recommended to continue to expand programming in this area, especially through fitness programs as indicated on the recreation survey. Expansion of programming for Borough senior’s age 60+ is highly recommended, although it may take some effort to initially get them involved since, for the most part seniors seem to be a very busy group. One recommended activity for seniors is a quality pickleball program. The Recreation Alliance of North Pittsburgh program for special needs, these events and programs serve individuals in the North Hills area. Continuing to partner with them helps reach these individuals and provide more recreational opportunities. New programs, or inclusion in existing programs, will enhance their ability to be an active part of the community. Outdoor education, including nature programs, such as, bird watching, ecology, hiking, interpretative identification programs, etc. should be included in a comprehensive program schedule. It is often possible to find community residents that have a specific interest in one or more of these areas and are

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willing to lead a program. Outdoor education and outdoor adventure programs are two areas of programming that were highly requested on the recreation survey. Therefore, expansion of programs in these areas is imperative to developing a recreation and program schedule that meets the needs of the Borough residents. Outdoor winter programs are another area to consider. Winterfest is the only program currently offered. Other winter activities that could be offered are, an evening bonfire, winter hikes, snow sculpting, sledding events, etc. It is difficult to predict our winter weather, so schedule changes for these programs may be necessary, or alternative activities planned, based on weather conditions. Currently the Borough offers a successful line dancing program. However, consideration should be given to other types of dancing programs, such as, square dancing, an adult social dance, a father/daughter or mother/son dance, a teen dance, etc. Zumba and similar other style dance classes are very popular as a dance/fitness class. The Borough has offered very popular week long summer camp programs for a number of years. The YMCA and Northland Library have indicated an interest in assisting with some of these programs or helping to develop new summer camp programs. It is recommended Franklin Park explore developing a strong working relationship with both organizations to enhance programming opportunities for the residents in camps and other areas. Mindcraft has offered some successful programs over the past couple of years. This partnership should continue in order to meet the needs of those who are interested in the technology area. Family oriented programs have always had a good attendance level in the Borough. These programs need to be continued with new features added to the existing programs and new types of family programming incorporated into the overall program schedule. As the Borough continues to grow and see a more diversified population, programs that address various cultural needs may have to be considered as part of the overall programming efforts. Passive recreation programs, such as arts & crafts, reading, etc. must be incorporated into the overall inclusive program. Franklin Park Borough through their own programs and through programs offered with partners needs to expand the number of passive recreation opportunities. Recreational programs are important to the community and must be considered as a valuable asset that cannot be dismissed, reduced or eliminated. It is recommended that Franklin Park continue to develop more programming, but “go slow” and don’t offer too many programs at one time. This is a frequent mistake which can extend staff and volunteers too far, diminish the quality of the programs offered, and create problems for future programs. A good method to follow in programming is the Program Cycle. The use of a programming cycle will provide a complete process through the assessment of public relations efforts, evaluation of administration, evaluation of program staff, assessment of program affordability, assist with program staff recruitment, and provide a continual survey of additional program desires. Perhaps the most important part of the cycle is the program evaluation that should be completed by the program participants at the end of each activity. The information obtained from the evaluation will help the staff determine: what parts of the program were most and least effective or enjoyed, what should

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be eliminated, what publicity methods were effective, whatever the time allotted for the program was adequate, and what are potential future recommendations for programs. The use of the program evaluation form should be included as part of participation in each program. A similar form should be developed for the instructor and volunteers to complete so that they can provide advice from their perspective and have input into the future programming process; therefore, they will feel “ownership” in the program’s growth. This information should be properly filed and referenced before offering the program again. This will allow continued improvement in the programs and help keep up with the changing needs of the community.

Sample Programming Cycle

Identify Evaluate Programs

Program Needs

Plan Program

Marketing Develop & Implement Programs

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Throughout the process of planning, implementing and evaluating each program, accurate records should be maintained. The records should include the following information:       

Day, date and time – This will help to determine the best time to offer this program, as some programs are effective at only certain times. Program Fee/Costs – Was it reasonable? Did you cover costs? What was your profit margin? Were the participants satisfied? Should you increase or decrease the fee? Location – Was it suitable for the program? Number of Participants- Documentation of this can be helpful in numerous ways in the future by providing information needed for grants, nomination of programs for awards, etc. Program Publicity – What types were used? What was most effective? Program Evaluation – This was explained earlier, but it should be maintained with the records for each program. Accidents or Injuries – This provides valuable knowledge that can eliminate potential risks and problems when conducting future programs.

Program Operational Manual Franklin Park Borough has a program operation manual that was developed for most of the major programs. However, the manual needs to be updated, and any new programs that are developed should be included in the manual. The manual provides the necessary information for anyone to step in and effectively run each program when it is offered. The following information should be included in the manual:              

Date, time and location of the program Contacts for the program Detailed description of the program Detailed list of supplies needed to operate the program Timeline for developing each phase of the program Set up and clean up procedures Cost elements related to the program Potential revenues generated from the program Program records as addressed above Sponsorship, donations, etc. for the program Volunteers/staff needed to successfully operate the program Photos, news releases, newspaper/magazine articles of the program Follow up : thank you letters, volunteer recognition, etc. Program review details – after reviewing the program with others, all ideas suggestions, changes should be properly noted.

Accurate record keeping will ensure that future programs are more effective and efficient, save time, and eliminate the possibility of forgetting to address certain aspects of the program, especially if it is a special event. Maintaining and updating an annual program plan which incorporates the above information will enhance the success of the programs. After each program is completed, a review of the program and its results should be analyzed and any suggested improvements should be recorded so that they can be considered the next time the program is held.

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CHAPTER 10 GOALS & OBJECTIVES

CHAPTER 10 GOALS & OBJECTIVES Overview The primary purpose of the Franklin Park Borough Comprehensive Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan is to analyzes all aspect of parks and recreation in the Borough. Over the course of one year this was done through several methods of public participation, interviews, and inventories. The information gathered through these processes was analyzed and discussed at the study committee meetings. This information was then used to develop the goals for the project. Goals, as defined in the dictionary, are: “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed.” The seven goals established for this plan are the result of the analysis of the findings and provide direction for future achievements in both the parks and in recreation programming. After the goals were established, it was imperative to develop objectives. Objectives, as defined in the dictionary, are: “something that one's efforts or actions are intended to attain or accomplish.” Therefore, further analysis lead to the development of numerous objectives for each goal. These objectives, as they are completed, will guide the Borough in accomplishing each of the goals set forth in this document. Another important aspect in updating the borough’s Comprehensive Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan is to enhance the borough’s opportunity to be awarded grants to provide funding sources for some of the objectives in the plan, therefore, achieving the ultimate goal of improving recreation and parks in the Borough. This results in a greater quality of life for borough residents. The following pages detail the seven goals and the objectives developed to meet these goals. However, there wasn’t enough prioritized responses received to make the data valid, therefore, completing the priorities with limited data would only skew the results. For that reason the priority section was not completed.

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES The time table for upgrading each park is listed below. Old Orchard Park:

2015

Blueberry Hill Park:

2015 - 2018

Linbrook Park:

2019 - 2020

Acorn Park:

2021 2022

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CHAPTER 10 GOALS & OBJECTIVES RECOMMENDATIONS & PRIORITY LEVELS Goal #1 – Develop first class Facilities that will meet the needs of all users, while ensuring a high standard of maintenance, cleanliness, safety, and aesthetically pleasing areas and facilities within the Borough parks. 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10

1.11

Objectives Ensure that all future facilities are compliant with the most recent ADA requirements. Update existing facilities that are not currently ADA compliant Improve visibility of handicap parking spaces with parking space markings and proper signage Upgrade the Blueberry Patch playground as indicated on the matrix Improve all other playgrounds as indicated on the matrix for each park Ensure that all playground surfacing meets the new criteria that was recently adopted Create a balance of active and passive areas and facilities in all parks. Develop a plan that identifies interconnected sidewalks, pedestrian access, and bike routes throughout the Borough, and develops connections to Borough parks. Install WiFi at Blueberry Hill Park Improve Activity Center a. Replace decking & railings b. Replace upper level doors c. Enlarge kitchen area d. Provide better storage e. Upgrade heating and cooling systems f. Replace ping pong and foosball g. Consider replacing laminate flooring in a few years as some areas are starting to separate Develop new facilities at Blueberry Hill Park a. Construct a fitness trail b. Remove bocce court, level and expand area adjacent to existing bocce court and construct pickleball courts c. Level and expand area adjacent to existing horseshoe pit and install bocce court in that location d. Construct infrastructure in southern area of park, i.e. water, electric, gas, sewage, roads to new facilities, parking areas, adequate drainage e. Construct a dog park in designated area shown on master site plan f. Construct another sand volleyball court between batting cages and existing courts g. Construct a combination storage building to accommodate IFPAA equipment, and restroom lower level with an upper level pavilion close to location of old barn site

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1.12

1.13

1.14

1.15

1.16

h. Construct a splash park where the master site plan indicates a swimming pool, possible utilizing the restroom/shower area of the field house/community center to avoid duplication of facilities i. Construct a field house/community center as indicated on the master site plan to include: gymnasium, synthetic turf area, walking track, meeting/party rooms, arts & crafts rooms, fitness rooms, office, restrooms with showers, etc. j. Reorient minor ball field #4 and consider developing it into a miracle field. Improve existing facilities at Blueberry Hill Park a. Reconstruct football field announcers booth with storage underneath b. Install awnings on football concession stand & develop café type area c. Improve existing trails d. Remove clivus multrum e. Improve existing electrical building f. Improve the surfacing on the tennis & basketball courts g. Construct new regulation tennis courts h. Install fence along bank behind Home Run Playground Improve safety and security in the parks a. Post signs showing contact information for problems and safety issues park users notice b. Post signs reminding park users to lock their vehicles c. Install security cameras in the parks at strategic locations d. Provide adequate lighting throughout Blueberry Hill Park to improve security and visibility. e. Provide safety and security lighting in other Borough parks f. Install motion sensors on certain park lights g. Repair or restrict usage of hazardous areas and/or facilities immediately h. Post park rules and regulations in visible locations in each of the Borough parks Construct new facilities at Linbrook Park a. Construct a picnic pavilion where the old house was located, consider including restroom and/or kitchen facilities in shelter structure b. Install infrastructure, i.e. water, electric, sewage in park c. Construct a restroom, concession, pavilion near lacrosse field d. Construct back nine on disc golf course Improve existing facilities at Linbrook Park a. Remove & reconstruct Whispering Pines & Cherry Grove Shelters b. Improve obstacles on obstacle course c. Construct tee pads and proper signage on disc golf course d. Improve adult softball field e. Improve existing trails Construct new facilities and improve existing facilities at Acorn Park a. Change existing court area into a regulation dek hockey court with spectator seating b. Construct a new restroom facility or supply portable toilets.

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1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27

1.28

c. Construct a new entrance sign. d. Improve the entrance road and parking areas. e. Improve existing trails Construct facilities at Old Orchard Park as shown on the master site plan. Construct trails & an observation platform at Mel Lubert Nature Preserve. a. Construct a parking area for Mel Lubert Nature Preserve Utilize green sustainable design in all new construction and in updates to existing facilities. Develop master plans for all Borough park sites. Update or redo existing park maintenance manual Update or redo the existing risk management manual Ensure that all Material Safety Data Sheets are readily accessible. Develop a detailed maintenance management plan that includes a preventative schedule and a responsive maintenance plan Maintain accurate records of all maintenance and inspections, especially playground inspections Perform regular visual risk assessment and park facilities inspections, especially for playground, & properly record inspection results noting any issues discovered Preserve historical features of the community, i.e. historical remains within the parks, such as old farm roads, old fence posts, old building remains, old gas/oil well casings, etc. and identify them with markers for future generations Establish outdoor classroom areas in the parks

Goal #2 - Develop Programs that meet the needs, interests, and desires of all residents in the Borough. 2.1 2.2 2.3

Objectives Ensure that all programs offered comply with ADA requirements. Explore opportunities to increase programming at the Activity Center, especially during the day Monday thru Friday Retain existing successful programs & establish new recreational experiences a. Develop programs geared towards those under three (1) Mommy & Me programs (2) Toddler playtime programs b. Enhance programming for teens (1) Involve teens in the process (2) Utilize Northland Libraries “Teen Advisory Group” (3) Work closely with the Borough’s Teen Rec. Board (4) Utilize the YMCS’s teen connections and programming skill/ideas (5) Involve students that are in the school district teen leadership programs and lifetime skills program (6) Consider adventure programming activities for teens (7) Provide volunteer opportunities for teens c. Develop programs that will meet the needs of young adults (1) Schedule programs geared towards college students at appropriate times that they would be available (2) Schedule programs for single people

10-4

2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.11 2.13 2.14 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19

(3) Schedule co-ed sports programs for this age group d. Develop programs for working adults (1) Schedule programs at times when they are most likely to be available (2) Plan men’s, women’s, & co-ed programs (3) Schedule a variety of fitness programs e. Plan programs for the stay at home mom/dad during the day f. Develop new program opportunities for seniors (1) Include passive programs, i.e. cards, book club, health related, educational, quilting, knitting, etc. (2) Plan active programs, i.e. pickleball, walking, dancing, fitness classes Devise a variety of outdoor education & outdoor adventure programs for all ages Utilize the “Get Outdoors” program information Offer interpretative programs using the natural features in the parks Design new family oriented programs Provide more passive recreational opportunities for all ages Enable further program diversification through activities in the areas of arts & crafts, performing arts, cooking, etc. Work with RANP to develop more special needs programs Preserve the history of the community through various historical markers and programs Consider programs that will meet the diverse cultural needs of the community Develop programs that create a sense of community Develop various intergenerational programs Offer program opportunities in each of the borough parks Partner with the EAC, Library & YMCA in developing new programs Revise & update the rental manual Revise & update the operational manual Update the existing program manual Organize all program supplies currently scattered between the pavilion, Activity Center, & several rooms in the Borough building

Goal #3 - Promote the Borough's facilities and recreational programs utilizing the most effective forms of Publicity for the potential audience. 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4

3.5 3.6 3.7

Objectives Develop a comprehensive email data base of residents who would like to receive recreational information Send out email blasts about upcoming program alerts, updates and/or e-newsletters Post on the website a monthly calendar of events Mail out a yearly Borough calendar containing all important meeting, activities, and other information reminding residents to check the website for additional details of upcoming programs Continue to send out newsletters with program activities in a timely manner to allow residents adequate time to register before programs are scheduled to begin Highlight recreational facilities and amenities in the newsletters Utilize social media as a method to promote programs and facilities

10-5

3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18

Design brochures for each park, including a map showing the location of each facility in the park Design trail specific brochures and place in brochure holder at trailhead signs Enhance the existing parks and recreation website page and update regularly Develop a detailed public relations/marketing plan Promote programs utilizing local magazines and newspapers Include all updated recreational information in the “Welcome Packets” Continue to use the digital sign and street signs to promote upcoming programs Utilize the schools electronic envelop to reach the elementary students and school announcements and posters to reach middle, intermediate, and high school students Utilize Northland Library in promoting programs and facilities Cross promote regional activities with RANP Utilize trailhead signs, bulletin boards, and potential kiosks for posting programs and other information

Goal #4 – Employ the Staff required to successfully develop, implement, and maintain the Borough’s facilities and recreational programs.

4.12 4.13

Objectives Fill the vacant Recreation Board positions Coordinate with universities for park and/or program internship opportunities Update personnel policies and job descriptions as changes occur. Continue to work with scouting groups to assist with programs and complete Eagle Scout projects Coordinate with high schools to develop leadership project opportunities in the parks and assisting with programs Continue providing staff opportunities to attend workshops, seminars, & conferences Establish a list of volunteers willing to donate time, service, and materials toward improving parks and program development Periodically review staffing levels for both parks and programs to determine if there is sufficient staff to meet the demands by the general public as new facilities are developed and programs are increased Hire dedicated personnel to maintain park areas and facilities as the parks are further developed Update the organizational chart as new positions are created or other changes made that would affect the organization Consider hire a secretary dedicated to parks and recreation as the borough expands in these areas As a safety issue, try to have at least two people working together to maintain the facilities Provide first aid training & maintain up to date CPR/AED training

5.1 5.2 5.3

Objectives Review the fee structure for programs and rental facilities yearly Pursue grants for the develop of parks and acquisition of park land Develop relationships with potential sponsors and foundations as funding sources

4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8

4.9 4.10 4.11

10-6

5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9

Pursue other alternative funding sources that may include program supplies & ideas, equipment, and financial support Establish well defined revenue policies for fundraising, sponsorships, donations, program fees, facility rentals, field usage, etc. Ensure the proper designated use of developer’s fees for recreation Design, develop, and operate facilities to be financially sustainable Design recreation programs that are financial sustainable through user fees, donations, and sponsorships Develop a three, five, & ten year capital improvement budget

Goal #6 – Develop strong Partnerships in an effort to enhance parks and recreational opportunities for Borough residents. Objectives

6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7

Develop a stronger partnership with Northland Library Develop a stronger partnership with the Baierl Family YMCA Continue to build the partnership with RANP Develop relationships with local media outlets to aid in marketing Develop a closer relationship with North Allegheny School District to better coordinate the provision of recreation services Develop new partnerships that may enhance recreational programs Maintain partnerships with the sports organizations, scouting groups, churches, businesses, and other recreation providers

Goal #7 - Promote Conservation and Preservation of valuable Open Space within the Borough. Objectives

7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13

Acquire the tract of land located at the northern tip of Blueberry Hill Park between I-79 & I-279 through a donation to the Borough and a tax right-off for the owners. Acquire the twelve acre tract of land located at the southeastern end of Blueberry Hill Park, if a reasonable price can be negotiated. Acquire the tract of land located along I-279 on the eastern side of Blueberry Hill Park as a developer’s donation. Consider the purchase of the twenty-three acre tract of land currently owned by North Allegheny School District along Magee Road Extension. Consider other potential park land opportunities, if available, to meet future park land needs. Follow the recommendations contained the Forest Management Plans completed in 2012. Adapt these plans to other park sites. Develop a comprehensive tree management program, that includes indigenous and diverse species of trees, shrubs, and flowers, to be used at all Borough parks and properties Control invasive species in the parks. Ensure that the Ridge Forest Development follows through with their stream remediation plan for Linbrook Park. Maintain the integrity of all streams, hillsides, and environmentally sensitive areas in the borough parks, including riparian buffers. Retain natural areas and greenway corridors throughout the parks. Preserve the native and ornamental plantings in the parks. Preserve for wildlife all dead trees and down trees that are located in areas that will not create a hazardous condition for park users.

10-7

APPENDIX – A PARK INVENTORY MATRIX

FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH ACORN PARK – 25 Acres FACILITY INVENTORY MATRIX CONDITION

AGE SERVED

ADA ACCESS

Poor

N/A

N/A

Install new sign coordinated with other park entrance signs

Fair

Youth Adult

No

Current – repair gate, install support bar on fencing above gate, clean & stain player’s benches or replace, add asphalt to wash out area near entrance gate, Future - Develop into an actual deck hockey court with sport court surfacing, batter boards, spectator seating, player boxes, etc.

Grass area

Fair

All

No

Clean up old leaves/debris behind court near gate, trim tree branches/brush around edges

Entrance Road & Parking Areas

Road milling surface

Fair

All

No

Pave road and parking areas, mark designated handicap parking space

Pit Privy

Block restroom with open hole

Poor

Youth Adult

No

Replace with portable - potty

Picnic Grove

Grass area

Fair

All

No

Remove/replace old picnic table & grill

FACILITY

DESCRIPTION

Entrance Sign

Redwood routered sign

Deck Hockey Court

73’ x 118’ asphalt

Open Area behind Court

AMENITIES

2” x 12” treated lumber boards around base of 10’ cyclone fence; two players benches; trash receptacle

Heavily treed

ISSUES/RECOMMENDATIONS

A-1

Playground

“L” shaped area

Two benches; trash receptacle; single bay swing set with two regular swing seats; swing mats; Miracle play structure with log roll, chain climber, bar, & triple slide; HAGS play structure with two types of slides, two climbers, & a rock climbing wall

Good

Youth

Yes

Add an ADA ramp at transition between asphalt path and play area, add more woodcarpet surfacing, touch up chipped paint on equipment, improve grass area around playground, remove/replace picnic table in grass area

Hiking Trail

Natural trail through park

Trailhead sign, directional signage at key locations; yellow dots on trees indication hiking trail; horses occasionally use trail

Good

Youth Adult

No

Place trail map in trailhead sign; install brochure holder for handout trail maps; trim protruding branches; clear fallen branches/trees; trim weeds along trail; add identification markers along trail; install benches/observation/outdoor classroom along trail

Mountain Bike Trail

Shares part of hiking trail

Shared trailhead sign; directional signage at key locations; blue dots on trees indicating mountain bike trail

Fair

Teens Adult

No

Trim weeds along trail; remove fallen tree; remove small stumps on trails surface; improve or reroute trail in narrow area where large tree fell over; install Mountain Bike Trail sign near stream with appropriate arrow pointing to left

Stream

Small good quality stream

Good

Youth Adult

No

Retain in clean natural condition

General

Small waterfalls

Remove numerous dead trees; remove numerous stumps; add dog waste station; retain back of park in a natural state; follow Forest Management Plan recommendations; improve parking; consider adding small pavilion in future if park use warrants

A-2

FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH ALPINE NATURE PRESERVE – 7 Acres FACILITY INVENTORY MATRIX

FACILITY

DESCRIPTION

AMENITIES

CONDITION

Open Space Area

Natural hillside area approximately 2,000’ long with a wide section reaching to Cole Road & the remainder being approximately 175” wide

Main entrance to area is a 25’ right-of-way located along Matterhorn Drive

Fair

Walking Trail

Natural

Poor

AGE SERVED

ADA ACCESS

ISSUES/RECOMMENDATIONS

Neighbors dump yard waste in the area, if ever needed a small play area could be constructed in wider section, access would be difficult

Youth/adult

No

Existing trail is from some neighbors walking through area

A-3

FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH BLUEBERRY HILL PARK – 87 Acres FACILITY INVENTORY MATRIX

FACILITY

DESCRIPTION

Park Roads

Paved roads through park

Parking Lots

Paved and unpaved lots

CONDITION

AGE SERVED

ADA ACCESS

Lighted entrance sign, street lights, landscaped banks, metal guiderails along part of road, wooden guiderails along road to pavilion, three speed bumps, split rail fence along road to ball field parking area

Fair

All

Yes

Extend street lighting through the park, improve landscaping along entrance road, road surfacing needs to be repaved

Wheel stops at Blueberry Patch parking lot

Fair

All

Yes

Repair & repave ball field parking lot & blueberry patch parking lot; pave middle football parking lot, pavilion parking lot & maintenance building parking lot; repair sunken edges around catch basins; install wheel stops at lower Activity Center parking area; paint handicap parking emblem on pavement at appropriate areas, i.e. all fields & other facilities, and install handicapped signage on posts at each location

AMENITIES

ISSUES/RECOMMENDATIONS

A-4

Signage

Foam board, wooden, & composite signs

Lighted entrance sign, directional signage, safety signage

Good

All

N/A

Improve signage as needed, especially handicap signage

Activity Center

Attractive building used for programs and rentals

Large open hall area, kitchen, storage areas, restrooms, office, recreation area, lounge area, well landscaped, large deck area, tables, chairs, large screen TV, pool table, ping pong table, foosball game, dart game, lounge area furniture, grill, cigarette receptacles,104 space parking lot

Good

All

Yes

Replace siding, soffit, & fascia, possibly with hardiboard products; replace all decking with composite decking; replace all railing with vinyl railing and post sleeves; replace all upper level doors; expand kitchen area; improve storage; repair paver stone patio; move wooden table off of deck; clean acoustic panels; scrub kitchen walls; clean stove grill & oven; clean refrigerator & fix shelving; repair/replace or remove foosball game; organize office; clean office refrigerator & defrost freezer; clean trash cans, tables & chairs; clean smokers; repair areas in bathrooms where dispensers were replaced; watch upper level floor as it is starting to separate in areas; repair stair handrail at landing

Paved court, not regulation size between back lines and fence – 7’ short on each end

Lighted, fenced on back ends, overlaid with one pickle ball court, court signs

Fair

Youth & adult

Yes

Either resurface court or install sport court surface; reset net posts; tie down bottom of fencing, remove leaves from fencing; improve bank area behind courts

Tennis Court

A-5

Basketball Court

50’ x 94’ paved court

Two hoops, bench, court signs

Fair

Youth & adult

Yes

Either resurface court or install sport court surface; Replace backboards, hoops & nets; paint lines on court; paint bench; improve drainage behind court

Bocce Court

Regulation limestone dust court

Two benches

Fair

Youth & adult

No

If retaining, re-level surfacing; power wash & stain benches; provide ADA accessibility; see further recommendations for this area

Corn Hole Game

Concrete game

Regulation corn hole area, picnic table, fenced along side

Good

Youth & adult

No

Provide ADA accessibility; power wash & stain picnic table; pour pad for picnic table; repair hole in fence

Horseshoe Pits

Standard pits

Picnic table on pad

Fair

Adults

No

Provide ADA accessibility; replace boards on pits; replenish clay; stain/replace picnic table

Sand Volleyball Courts

Two courts

Lighted, parking for seven cans plus one handicap space, court signs, two picnic tables on eastern side, four picnic tables on western side with one table being ADA, dog waste station

Good

Youth & adult

Yes

Replace fencing, add sand to court; install better post padding; stain posts; replace picnic tables; edge court area to better define court/grass line; construct third court between picnic tables and batting cage; add pavement marking for handicap space

Ball Field Restrooms

Flush restrooms

Men’s – commode, two urinals, two sinks, mirror, electric & manual hand dryers; ladies – three commodes, two sinks; mirror; electric & manual hand dryers

Good

All

Yes

Construct a paved walkway to restrooms; replace exterior siding; replace cracked toilet; paint doors; clean & paint interior walls; scrape, sand & paint partitions, mainly bottoms

A-6

Practice Pitching Area

Two mounds

Rubbers, home plates, backstops behind pitchers & batters areas

Good

Youth

No

Paint rusted bars; reattach mat; repair mounds & pitch

Field #1

Multipurpose field

Lighted, backstop, two block dugouts with player benches, two warm up areas; electronic scoreboard, announcers stand; two sets 15’ – 5 seat bleachers with railings, storage area; paved access to dugouts; water fountain, retaining wall along walkway, picnic table on pad; two batting cages with concrete pad matting & electric, 10’ outfield fence, 8’ sideline fence changing to 4’

Good

Youth

Yes

Repair pickets on announcers stand; stain announcers stand; improve drainage at third base dugout; install steps from parking lot to walkway near backstop; install water spigot; install fascia covering on announcers stand

Lighted, two block dugouts with player benches, electronic scoreboard, announcers stand; two sets 15’ – 5 seat bleachers with railings, storage area; three picnic tables, two batting cages with concrete pad matting & electric, 6’ outfield screened fence, 18’ backstop & sideline fence changing to 4’ partially down sidelines, storage bins

Good

Youth

Yes

Paint scoreboard posts; redirect water behind center outfield fence, install new flooring in dugouts; replace wooden picnic tables; install paved walkway & pad to bleachers for better ADA accessibility; remove old pitching machine fenced area near batting cages

Lighted, two wooden dugouts with player benches, warmup area, electronic scoreboard, announcers stand; two sets 15’ – 5 seat bleachers with railings, two batting cages with concrete pad & synthetic turf, 10’ outfield fence with netting in left field, backstop, 10’ – 3rd base sideline fence with netting, 10’ – 1st base sideline fence changing to 4’ fence, storage bins

Good

Youth

Yes

Replace missing spindles on announcers stand; paint scoreboard posts; improve drainage around announcers stand & on field; repair bare spots in grass areas; install water fountain with spigot, stain announcers stand

Right – 220’ Left – 225’

Field #2

Pony Field Right – 300’ Left – 300”

Field #3

Girls’ Softball Field Right – 242’ Left – 218’

A-7

Field #4

Minor Field Right – 140’ Left – 183’

Ball Fields General

Replace missing spindles on 3rd base dugout; cut/trim trees & vines behind outfield fence, improve appearance at bottom of backstop fence, repair field lip

Two wooden dugouts with player benches, warmup area, two sets 15’ – 5 seat bleachers with railings, 4’outfield fence, 10’- 3rd base sideline fence changing to 4’ fence, 4’ – 1st base sideline fence, backstop, storage bins

Good

Youth

Yes

Field rules signs, no smoking signs

Good

All

N/A

Good

Adult

Lower – yes, upper - no

Good

All

No

Power wash & stain deck; clear trees for better visibility of horse ring; install fencing along bank

Fair

Adults

No

Improve/replace building

Ball Field Snack Shack

Concession/s torage building

Large building with concession stand and storage room on lower level & equipment storage and meeting room in upper level

Observation Deck

12’ x 12’ deck

Electrical Building

Power source for ball field lights

Home Run Playground

Playworld Playground

Spring airplane, rock wall, fun toss, single bay swing with regular seats, whirl, play structure with two slides, two play panels transfer station, two decks, overhead bars, climber, bell, two benches, signage

Good

Youth

Yes

Remove millings from walkway to playground, install ADA access ramp into playground, remove old yellow fence cap near playground, power wash benches and structure decks, remove dead trees near playground

Clivus Multrum

Composting restroom

Men’s – Urinal & commode, Ladies – commode, electrical panels in lower level

Poor

Adults

No

Remove composting unit, clean bottom level, replace lower level doors

Attached benches

Dusk to dawn light, 440 volt panels, water spigot near building

Replace siding; install new boards on sides of serving windows; point block; stain deck & stairs; replace broken spindle on deck

A-8

Maintenance building

Maintenance facility for all parks

Water, electric, heat, lunch room large storage/work area,

Good

Adult employees

Yes

Replace siding, clean around building, remove dead trees behind building, improve drainage around building, pave lot in front of building

Gazebo

30’ dodecagon

Lighted, electrical outlet, concrete floor, patio area, three recycled plastic benches, retaining wall, five regular hexagon tables & one ADA hexagon table, paver stone walkway, landscaped

Good

All

Yes

Improve drainage on walkway in front of gazebo

Blueberry Patch Playground

Playworld 30,000 square foot play area

Paved walkway around entire play area, single bay wooden infant swing set with two swings; wooden play structure with four slides, two access ramps, crawl tube, four roofs, six climbers, megaphones, steering wheel, decks, slide mats, overhead bar, overhead rings; sandbox with shelter covering & attached benches; infant play structure with two slides, crawl tube, climber, two steering wheels, roof, four decks; single bay metal infant swing set with two swings; plastic play structure with double slide, crawl tube, transfer deck, six regular decks, arch bridge, swinging bridge, four climbers, angular slide, two plastic roofs; double bay metal swing set – four regular swing seats with mats; Large play structure – arch posts, eleven decks, three triangular rings

Fair

All

Yes

Infant swing – seat brackets starting to curl (not dangerous yet); Wooden play structure - Chain climber – coating separating; ramps & decking – cover with composite decking or replace; support posts & rails – splintering; use touch up paint on metal worn areas; straight tube slide – top edge of bottom tube broken off but not dangerous right now; Overhead bars – replace deteriorating posts, use touch up paint on metal; Overhead rings replace deteriorating posts, use touch up paint on metal; Sandbox replace shingles & fascia – add drip edge; repair sandbox where separating; add sand; replace ADA raised sand structure, replace protective padding on concrete; Infant play structure – cover

port-a-john, IFPAA storage area

A-10 A-9

(two curved & one straight), swinging balance beam, two overhead ladders, overhead trapeze rings, two overhead gliders, overhead bars, crawl tube, tube slide with mat; stone entrance pillars with entrance sign; fencing; recognition sign with recognition bricks; stone benches & planters; water fountain; six wooden picnic tables; entrance gates; landscaping; port-a-john on concrete pad (not ADA compliant)

decking with composite decking or replace; angular slide – needs replaced center pushing up, straight slide – cracks in plastic, some post deterioration on first deck; Metal infant swing set – seat brackets starting to curl but not dangerous yet; Plastic play structure – double slide – separation at top of slide, crawl tube – discoloration, transfer deck/steps – replace steps were coating is missing, decks – plastic covering starting to crack on some decks, swinging bridge – plastic covering cracking, chain climber – plastic covering cracking; touch up paint worn areas on metal surfaces; Metal swing set – touch up paint on posts, remove tape from top swing brackets; Large play structure –swinging balance beam – tighten brackets, plastic coating on chains splitting, clevis brackets rusting, crawl tube – one broken (replace immediately), other tube starting to crack near attached area, tube slide – sand & touch up rusted bottom support, top edge of bottom tube broken off but not dangerous right now; touch up all bare metal areas; Stone entrance pillars – replace missing stone or

A-10

redo stone on entire pillars; Stone benches & planters - replace missing stone or redo stone on all surfaces; Recognition sign – replace broken Plexiglas, clean & repair recognition bricks; Fencing – repair loose pickets, straighten fencing where leaning; Picnic tables – replace with new tables; Entrance gates – touch up paint worn areas; Handicap parking – mark pavement with appropriate marking Tiger Pride Football Field

Regulation football field 360’ x 159’

Concession stand with restrooms & upper storage area, grinder pump for restrooms, fenced & gated, lighted field, irrigated, irrigation control panel, goal posts, two 60’ elevated bleachers with rails, shed, pavilion with twelve wooden tables & electrical outlets, announcers booth, 12’ jogging track, speakers, scoreboard, flag pole with memorial plaque, shuffleboard, parking area

Good

All

Yes

Goals - Touch up paint where worn; Concession stand – repair downspout, paint doors; Jogging track – repave; Shuffleboard – repaint or eliminate; Bleachers – repair separated board on visitor bleacher, clean under bleachers; Picnic tables – stain or replace, add an ADA compliant table; Pavilion – repair heaved asphalt along southeastern edge of pavilion; Parking area – repave area & designate handicap parking spaces; Announcers booth – construct new booth with storage shed; Storage shed – remove when new shed constructed; Speakers – bury exposed conduit on bank; Fencing – top rail rusting

A-10 A-11

Log House

1800 circa log house

Two story building with a rope bed, table, hutch, fireplace, benches, interpretative sign, & security

Good

Youth & adults

No

Remove dead and fallen trees behind house, stain exterior with special formula for old log buildings, install appropriate time period lighting, remove stumps, repair upper level broken window, stain shutters

Maple Grove Pavilion

40’ x 60’ two story picnic pavilion

Upper level - lighted, electrical outlets, sink & cabinet, 17 regular recycled plastic picnic tables & three ADA recycled plastic tables; Lower level – restrooms with grinder pump, activity room, storage room, kitchen, four regular hexagon tables & one Ada hexagon table ; ADA walkway from parking to upper level & to lower level; sign; street light; landscaped

Good

All

Yes

Raise paver stones at both entrances to pavilion; replace missing cover plate on electrical outlet, install drainage pipe lower level; paint inside of activity room; paint restroom walls, paint support beams; paint doors; sand and paint bottom of bathroom partitions; plug bird entry holes; clean kitchen; organize activity room & storage room, improve grass around pavilion; plant maple trees below split rail fence

Sledding Hill

Open grass hillside

Steep slope

Good

Youth & adults

No

Adventure Playground

Large GameTime play area

Play structure – three slides, seven play panels, climbing wall, bridge, stairs, crawl tubes, three climbers, overhead bars, multiple decks, two benches, & sign

Good

Youth

Yes

Install ADA access ramp into playground; touch up worn paint areas; improve grass area around playground

Meadow Area

Large open grass area

Irrigated, drainage basins, wooden picnic tables, storage shed, inserts for grass volleyball court posts, split rail fence, dog waste station, signs – No Dogs or Golfing, fencing – 6’ to 4’ fence, backstop

Good

All

No

Repair worn areas in grass, use spray foam in pipe holes on backstop to eliminate bee problems; install home plate at backstop; straighten split rail fence; repair bottom rail 4’ fence; trim detention pond

A-12

Trails & Paths

Natural trails & limestone chip path

Concrete Picnic Tables

Tables

General Information

Trailhead sign, three benches, four bridges

Fair

Youth & adults

No

Clear, trim & widen trails; repair drainage issues; clean & stain bridges; remove old pipe in stream near bridges; remove fallen trees; complete construction of trail; install interpretative signage; acquire small parcel of land at point of I-79 & I-279; provide ADA access to at least part of trail; straighten fence along path from upper to lower fields; stabilize bank along path; pave path

Four concrete tables on concrete pad

Good

All

No

Replace seat boards, provide ADA access to tables

Trash receptacles throughout park; recycling receptacles throughout park, dumpsters; Memorial benches; Memorial plaques; trees, shrubs, vines & flowers; geocache & letter boxes

Good

All

N/A

Complete construction of concrete pads where needed; remove stumps in grass areas; establish easily accessible, solid ground dumpster sites; clean catch basins; clean under all bleachers; replace wooden picnic tables with modern tables; place identification plaques at trees, shrubs, vines, & flowers

A-13

FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH LINBROOK PARK – 80 Acres FACILITY INVENTORY MATRIX

FACILITY

DESCRIPTION

Entrance Sign

Foam board sign with stone pillars

Entrance Road

Asphalt surface, narrow in some locations

Soccer Parking Lot

Paved lot

CONDITION

AGE SERVED

ADA ACCESS

ISSUES/RECOMMENDATIONS

Excellent

N/A

N/A

Improve landscaping under sign

Directional signage; speed limit signs; watch children signs; bridge

Good

All

Yes

Repair potholes; add trail crossing signage & stripes on road surface; add disc golf crossing signage & stripes on road surface; sandblast & paint bridge support beams

2 – 21’ three seat bleachers on lot; 2- no Dogs or Golfing on Field signs; Handicap Parking sign; split rail fencing, trash receptacles

Good

All

Yes

Landscape along edge of parking lot & bank between lot and road; straighten signs; move handicap parking sign closer to bleachers & delineate handicap parking space with lines and appropriate markings; replace split rails that are in poor condition

AMENITIES

A-14

Soccer Field

Small field

Two large goals

Good

Youth

No

Repair worn areas in grass, improve drainage

Good

Youth

No

Pave under bleachers, provide handicap parking area and access path to bleachers, update field sign, bleachers need railings

140’ x 230’ Youth Softball Field

Right – 196’

2 – five seat bleachers without rails,

Left – 193’

2 block dugouts with player benches, trash receptacles, storage shed, storage bins, warm-up area, soft pitch, backstop, dirt infields, port-a-john, large field sign

Batting Cage

Net type cage

Pea gravel surface with 4”x4” borders

Fair

Youth

No

Hammer down protruding rebar, repair net, spray weeds

Wildflower Trail

Natural trail

Two bridges

Good

All

No

Power wash & stain bridges, replace missing spindles on first bridge

Dragon Playground

GameTime play structure

Three slides, five climbers, parallel bars, three play panels, crawl tube, two benches, picnic table, trash receptacle

Good

All

Yes

Remove large rotting cherry tree near playground, add surfacing material, install ADA access ramp into playground, remove metal post near maple tree, power wash benches & play structure decks

Lower Lacrosse Field

175’ x 290’

15’ – five seat bleachers with rails, storage shed, goals, trash receptacles, two signs – “No Dogs or Golfing on Field”, 8’ netting at both ends of field, practice net, scoreboard

Good

Youth

No

Pave under bleachers, construct short handicap walkway and seating area near bleachers, repair netting at far end of field, trim trees and grass behind netting at far end of field, remove stumps and debris along creek edge, improve scoreboard

A-15

Lacrosse Parking Lot

Paved lot

Dumpster

Good

All

Yes

Install handicap parking sign near bleachers, landscape along edges of parking area

Instructional TBall

Field # 1 –

2 – 15” five seat bleachers without rails, player benches, two warm-up areas, backstops, trash receptacles, fencing around both fields, dirt infields, storage bins

Fair

Youth

No

Cut grass behind fence on creek side, fill in hole near creek by field #2 backstop, pave under bleachers, remove build-up at infield/outfield transition areas on both fields, improve drainage on fields, improve warm-up areas, remove overhanging branches, repair infields, provide ADA access to fields, paint storage bins, power wash & stain player benches or replace

Good

Youth

No

Power wash & stain

90’L & 130’ R

Field #2 90”R & 110”L

Bridge to Instructional Ball Fields

Long wooden bridge

Old Linbrook House Area

Open grass area

Water spigot, paved driveway

Good

All

Yes

Remove spruce, white pine, & hemlock trees, remove ends of branches overhanging ball field, remove patch of multiflora rose, remove briars at upper side of lawn area

Linbrook Garage

Vinyl siding frame garage

Shrubs/trees alongside & back

Good

Employ ees

Yes

Remove old ladder behind garage, clean siding, clean gutters, organize interior, paint man door, construct new picnic pavilion

A-16

Old Barn Area

Concrete pad

Poor

N/A

No

Clean area, potentially develop parking for instructional ball fields or future pavilion

Cherry Grove Pavilion

20’ x 32’ shelter

8 – 8’ picnic tables, concrete floor, trash receptacles, recycling can,

Good

All

No

Pave walkway to comply with ADA access requirements, add an ADA picnic table, install a grill, construct new pavilion with new tables – posts starting to rot at base, install electric in new pavilion

Cherry Grove Parking Area

Partially paved area

Divided by split rail fence

Good

All

Partially

Complete paving, cut lip & landscape upper side, landscape all edges, delineate angle parking spaces, establish as one way traffic, install handicap parking sign & delineate parking space

Lacrosse Game Field

Regulation field

Scoreboard, electric & control connections at left center of field, split rail fence with gate, picnic table, water pump, trash receptacles, recycling cans, directional signs

Good

Adult/ Youth

No

Construct an ADA access walkway & sitting area, repair bare spots, install end of field netting/practice board, install fencing along bank, install bleachers, repair water pump concrete pad, paint support posts on scoreboard

Lacrosse/Softball & Cricket Parking

Millings

Port-a-john, 21’ – 3 seat bleacher

Fair

All

No

Pave parking & under bleacher, add handicap sign & delineated parking space

A-17

Softball/Cricket Field

Dual purpose field Softball Right – 247’ Left – 287’

Cricket mat in softball center field, split rail fencing around field with gate, backstop, 15’ – five seat bleacher with railing, 2 – 16’ player benches, storage bins, trash receptacles, recycling cans, 8’ picnic table

Fair

Youth /Adult

No

Provide ADA accessible area near bleachers at parking area, stain players bench, raise home plate, install foul poles, improve softball infield, improve cricket pitch area

Youth Cricket Pitch Area

Net practice pitch area

Poles, surfacing

Poor

Youth

No

Surfacing overgrown with grass, netting not hung, area needs improved or removed

Tree House Playground

Miracle play structure

Two slides, two climbers, pod climber, transfer station, two large deck areas, two benches, picnic table, paved path to playground with handicap parking area, trash receptacle

Good

Youth

Yes

Install ADA access ramp into playground, add surfacing material, power wash benches & structure, remove dead trees & hanging branches near playground

Road to Whispering Pines Shelter

Milling surface

Fair

All

No

Repair potholes & drainage issues, pave road

Whispering Pines Shelter

20’ x 32’ shelter

8 – 8’ picnic tables, trash receptacles, recycling can, grill

Fair

All

Yes

Delineate handicap parking space, improve drainage, remove staples from tables, add an ADA table, provide ADA access to grill, construct new pavilion with new tables support posts rotting, pave parking area

Obstacle Course

Natural path with obstacles

Tires, rope swing, concrete crawl tube

Fair

Youth /Adult

No

Renovate course & add new obstacles, paint entrance sign, trim branches/weeds

Horseshoe Pits

40’ pits with 6’ box

Poor

Adult

No

Replenish clay material. install new stakes at proper height & angle, trim overhanging branches

A-18

Swing Set

8’ swing set

Two bays with two infant seats & two regular belt seats

Fair

All

No

Increase use zone to compliant dimensions, eventually replace with modern swing set & eliminate exposed concrete around supports

Eagle Scout Hiking Trail

Natural trail

One plus miles long, shorter loops, five benches along trail, one bridge, trailhead sign, directional signs

Good

Youth /Adult

No

Make a portion ADA compliant; remove fallen trees, branches, & leaning trees; repair drainage issues; trim branches & weeds along trail; add top rail to bridge; fill in hole at end of bridge; remove several small stumps along trail; add directional signage & caution sign where trail crosses disc golf hole #7; horses using trail creating poor footing in some areas & droppings on trial, possibly install swinging bridge at back of Eagle Scout Loop

Disc Golf Course

9 hole course

Practice basket near Cherry Grove, benches on holes 1, 2, & 3

Good

Youth /Adult

No

Construct tee pads, install tee signs, install directional signs, install trail crossing sign on hole #7, remove fallen trees/branches, add back nine

General

Install dog waste stations, remove dead trees, clean catch basins

A-19

FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH MEL LUBERT NATURE PRESERVE – 8 Acres FACILITY INVENTORY MATRIX

FACILITY

DESCRIPTION

Signage

Coordinate with other parks

AMENITIES

CONDITION

AGE SERVED

ADA ACCESS

ISSUES/RECOMMENDATIONS

Install entrance sign & directional signs

Parking Area

Develop parking spaces at one of three potential locations – Willow Oak Drive, Wexford Run Road, or Huntington Court North

Walking Trail

Develop a walking trail loop through preserve that touches on key points of interest, construct two bridges over the creek, construct nature observation platform between retention ponds, install interpretative signage along trail

Pine Creek

General

Small stream through preserve

Good quality stream

Good

All

No

Retain quality of stream & clear any debris located in stream

Yard waste being dumped in preserve near end of Huntington Court North

A-20

FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH OLD ORCHARD PARK – 16.4 Acres FACILITY INVENTORY MATRIX

FACILITY

DESCRIPTION

AMENITIES

CONDITION

AGE SERVED

ADA ACCESS

ISSUES/RECOMMENDATIONS

Entrance Sign

8’ foam board with stone pillars

Landscaped area around sign

Excellent

All

N/A

Continue maintaining landscape plantings

Entrance Road

Paved road

Tree lined with maples

Good

All

No

Watch for buck rubs on trees & possibly mulch base of trees

Parking Area

50’ x 60’ paved parking area

Split rail fence around part of parking area

Good

All

No – slope doesn’t meet standards

Replace broken rails, landscape under cherry/oak trees at northern end of parking area

Sign

Park Closed Dusk to Dawn

Good

All

N/A

Open Lawn Areas

Well groomed grass

Good

All

N/A

Various tree species through the open lawn areas

A-21

Walking Trail

Paved trail approximately 2, 915 long

Multipurpose Area

Open grass field

Activity Area

Open area

General

2 loops with three entry points & 3 dog waste stations

Good

All

No

Remove dead trees/overhanging branches adjacent to trail, clean out catch basins along trail, replace or remove split rails along trail near Old Orchard Road entrance, weed flower beds, remove/replace Korean spice bushes that deer have ruined above trail near Old Orchard Road entrance, place protective around tree at same location, disperse piles of topsoil located at various place along trail, stain trail bridge, pick up trash near bridge, clean up #10 limestone that was washed off trail,

Good

All

No

Install straight winged backstop in southwestern corner for pickup ball games Complete development of facilities Improve overall landscaping, remove invasive vines in trees, possibly add a couple picnic tables with pads in grass areas, possibly mulch around base of trees; install trash receptacles

A-22

APPENDIX – B FUNDING SOURCES

FUNDING SOURCES - GRANTS Grant American Legacy Foundation Initiative for Tobacco Control

Description Provides grants of up to $200,000 for anti-smoking projects.

Contact Information 202-293-5960

Baseball Tomorrow Fund

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund, a joint initiative between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, offers grants to nonprofit and taxexempt organizations involved in youth baseball and softball programs.

www.mlb.com www.baseballtomorrowfund.com

Bowerman Track Renovation Program Offers Grants

Provides matching cash grants of up to $50,000 to community-based, youth organizations that seek to refurbish or construct running tracks. The program distributes approximately $200,000 in matching grants each year. Provides meals and snacks for after school and evening youth recreation programs.

http://www.nike.com/nikebiz,jhtml ?page=26&item=bowerman

Department of Community and Economic Development – Single Application Grants

This program is designed to offer convenience and save time. The one-step online form allows you to apply simultaneously for one or more of Pennsylvania’s community and economic development financial assistance programs.

Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Commonwealth Keystone Building 400 North Street, 4th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225 1-800-379-7448www.inventpa.com (select single application from “Find Specific Initiatives and Programs”

Department of Conversation and Natural Resources –Community Conservation Program

Whether it’s rehabilitating a community athletic field, building a safer playground, preparing a watershed or greenways plan, developing an abandoned rail corridor or protecting a critical natural or open space area, this program has grants to meet local recreation and conservation needs.

www.dcnr.state.pa.us

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

www.dot.state.pa.us

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Department of Conversation and Natural Resources – Growing Greener Program

These funds augment the Community Conservation Partnership grants. The money will be allocated over several existing grant programs to help communities and organizations meet their conservation and recreation goals.

www.dcnr.state.pa.us

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Program

Provide funds to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail related facilities for motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail use .Federal funding for the program is through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21).

www.dcnr.state.pa.us

Get Outdoors PA Community Partners

$1,500 - $3,000 Grants to fund equipment and training related to outdoor programming. Must be a Get Outdoors Partner The program provides technical and financial assistance to municipalities and river support groups to carry out planning, implementation, acquisition and development activities related to river conservation. A registry is established to recognize local river conservation efforts.

www.dcnr.state.pa.us

Provides information on hundreds of federal grants that can be used to support youth recreation programs. Information to assist with landscaping/tree plantings

www.afterschool.gov

Serving all of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Local Government Academy’s purpose is to promote excellence in government by providing educational opportunities to assist public officials, employees, and citizens in effectively meeting the needs of their communities. Provides grants of up to $100,000 for capital improvement projects to improve or create football fields in low and moderate –income neighborhoods. Provides grants of $500 to $2,500 to purchase equipment, repair fields, establish new football programs, and improve existing programs. Provides grants of over $750 for seeds, tools and gardening supplies for children to learn and work in outdoor gardens. Provides grants for conservation and environmental education projects.

800 Allegheny Avenue, Suite 402 Pittsburgh, PA 15233 412-237-3171, 412-237-3139 (fax)

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – River Conservation Program

Federal Grants Clearinghouse International Society of Arboriculture Local Government Academy

NFL Community Football Fields Program NFL Youth Football Fund

National Gardening Association Youth Garden Grants National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

www.dcnr.state.pa.us

http://www. isa-arbor.org

212-455-9881

www.nrpa.org

www.kidsgardening.com/grants.asp

www.nfwf.org

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Pennsylvania Council on the Arts

www.artsnet.org/pca/pca.html

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection – Environmental Stewardship and Watershed Protection Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection – Non-point Source Pollution Control Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection – Source Water Protection Grant Program Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection – Stormwater Management Program

Funding to clean up abandoned mines, restore watersheds, and provide new and upgraded water and sewer systems.

1-877-PAGREEN www.dep.state.us

Funding for projects that restore or protect impaired water through education, monitoring or practices to control or reduce non-point sources of pollution.

Bureau of Watershed Management 717-787-5259

Grants for the start-up and development of local, voluntary source water protection programs.

Bureau of Watershed Management 717-787-5259

Grants and technical assistance for planning and implementing stormwater control

Bureau of Watershed Management 717-772-5661

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection – Stream Improvement Program Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection – Wetlands Replacement Program PA Cleanways

State provided design and construction projects to eliminate imminent threats due to flooding and stream bank erosion

Bureau of Waterways Engineering 717-787-3411

Funding and technical assistance for the restoration of wetlands

Bureau of Watershed Management 717-787-6827

A non-profit organization that helps communities take action against illegal dumping and littering.

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission – Technical Guidance Program Pennsylvania Humanities Council Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS) RecTAP Program Community Services Block Grant

Allows public organizations to partner with commission to provide low-cost public boat access, boat docks, or fishing piers.

105 West Fourth Street Greensburg, PA 15601 724-836-4121, 724-836-1980 (fax) www.pacleanways,org Gregory Smith 814-359-5150, 814-359-5153 (fax) [email protected] www.fish.state.pa.us www.pahumanities.org

Provides technical assistance grants of up to $1,500 to help recreation and park boards and departments with specific issues. No matching funds are required. Public entities, including recreation and parks, can be partners in this block grant program

www.prps.org

www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ ocs/csbg/index.htm or call 202-401-9344..

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Common Grant Application Format (Sponsored by Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania)

The Grantmakers of Western PA provide the materials needed to apply for many grants geared toward foundations in the western part of Pennsylvania. Visit their website for links to the common grant application and details on writing your grant application.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Health and Human Services U.S. Department of Justice

Provides funding for breakfast, lunch, and snacks for children ages 18 and under at summer playgrounds, camps, and other recreation programs. Provides information on grants to apply for in cooperation with school districts. Provides information on available grants that can be used to fund recreation programs that improve health.

Grants.gov

Western Pennsylvania Field Institute

Western Pennsylvania Watershed Protection Program USDA Forest Service Wood in Transportation Land & Water Conservation Funds Surface Transportation Program Safe Routes to Schools Allegheny County Economic Development Peer to Peer PA. Conservation Corps 21st Century Learning Program NEA Funds Learning in the Arts for Children

Provides information on crime and violence prevention grants that can be used to support recreation programs. The federal government’s master system for listing and tracking grants. It includes all 50 states as well as federally funded programs. The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute is a not-forprofit organization dedicated to making the outdoor recreation community a vibrant centerpiece of this region. Provides funding matches for the preservation and restoration of water resources and watersheds.

Grantmakers of Western PA 650 Smithfield St., Suite 210 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 471-6488 Fax: (412) 232-3115 Email: [email protected] Website: http://web.gwpa.org:4600/grantm akers: Website,grantmakers,home www.frac.org

www.ed.gov/funding.html www.hhs.gov/agencies/grants.html

www.oip.usdoj.gov/fundopps.htm

Grants.gov

304 Forbes Ave, 2nd floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-255-0564 John Dawes 814-669-4847 www.fs.fed.us/na/wit www.dcnr.state.pa.us www.dot.state.pa.us www.srtacademy.org www.county.allegheny.pa.us/econ omic 412-350-1000 www.dcnr.state.pa.us www.dot.state.pa.us www.ed.gov/21stcclc www.arts.gov/grants/apply/ GAP09?LITA.html

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Shared Municipal Services National Recreation & Park Association Keys to Successful Funding:

Amgen Foundation Community Life Grants

United States Department of Agriculture Community Facility Grants

www.Newpa.com www.nrpa.org/grants A Small Community Guide to Federal and Foundation Resources

The Foundation dedicates substantial resources to strengthening and enriching the community, thereby making it a more desirable place to live and work. This investment helps to ensure that essential health and social services, environmental programs, the excitement of the sciences and the richness of the arts are more accessible to all members of the community. Grants for communities up to 20,000 in population. Grant funds can be used to construct, enlarge, or improve community facilities for health care, public safety, and community and public services. This can include the purchase of equipment required for a facility's operation.

444N. Capital St. NW, Suite 397 Washington, DC 20001 Phone: 202-624-3550 FAX: 202- 624-3554 [email protected] www.smallcommunities.org http://www.amgen.com/ citizenship/apply_for_grant.html Website: http://www.amgen.com/ citizenship/foundation.html

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/HADCF_Grants.html

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FUNDING SOURCES - FOUNDATIONS Foundations Allegheny Teledyne, Inc. Charitable Trust

Bayer Foundation

The Eberly Foundation

The Grable Foundation

Heinz (Howard) Endowment

Laurel Foundation

McCune Foundation

The Foundation Center

The Tony Hawk Foundation

Description Mostly local pa giving for projects related to youth, disabled, community arts, historical, or sports and camps. Letter form requests with a maximum of 2 pages may be submitted at any time. Include IRS taxexempt document. Trustees meet in January, April, July, and October to award grants. About one-half local/Pa. giving for projects related to youth, disabled, seniors, community arts, historical, sports and camps, or economic development. Full proposal may be submitted at anytime. Deadlines are 3/15 and 9/15. Grants are awarded for projects related to youth, community arts, historical, sports and camps, miscellaneous, or economic development. Submit requests in letter format at any time. Projects awarded for youth, disabled, families, seniors, community arts, historical, or camps and sport projects. Grants awarded in February, June and October. Use the Common Grant Application Format of Grantmakers of Western Pa as formal application. Send a letter of inquiry before formal application. Projects must relate to families, youth, disabled, community arts, historical, or sports and camps.

Grants are awarded for youth, families, seniors, disabled, community arts, historical, conservation and ecology, sports and camps, or miscellaneous projects. No call is needed to discuss feasibility. Send letter of inquiry to Executive Director, 2 pages maximum. Grants awarded for youth, families, seniors, disabled, community arts, historical, sports and camps, or miscellaneous projects. Has created a unique map that shows the different funding options by states associated with ARRA. Provides funding for construction of skate parks

Contact Information c/o Allegheny Teledyne Inc. 1000 Six PPG Place Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-394-2836 www.scaife.com

c/o Bayer Corporation 100 Bayer Rd., Building 4 Pittsburgh, PA 15205 412-777-5791 www.bayerus.com/community/charity/i ndex.html 610 National City Bank Building Downtown Station PO Box 2023 Uniontown, PA 15401 724-438-3789 240 Centre City Tower 650 Smithfield St. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-471-4550

30 CNG Tower 625 Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-281-5777 or 412-391-1040 www.heinz.org Laurel Foundation Two Gateway Center Suite 1800 Pittsburgh, PA 15222. 412-765-2400 Suite 750 6 PPG Place Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-644-8779 www.foundationcenter.org

www.tonyhawkfoundation.org

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Directory Of Pennsylvania Foundations

This publication provides information on foundations in Pennsylvania by regions. Published by Triadvocates Press and researched, compiled and edited by Damon Kletzien. Can be purchased for $73.50 through:

UPS Foundation Community Investment Grants U.S. Soccer Foundation

Allocates dollars to UPS region offices to invest in their communities.

Finish Line Youth Foundation

General Mills Foundation Healthy Youth Funding Resources LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Program

NFL Grassroots Program

Nike

The goal of the grantmaking program is to focus funding on those programs or projects that develop players, referees, and coaches with special emphasis on the economically disadvantaged in urban areas. The foundation’s grants program is open to anyone with a soccerspecific program or project that benefits a notfor-profit purpose and meets the established focus. Encourages Sport Life Style in America’s youth. Funding and assistance for education, sports and exercise placing importance on living a healthy lifestyle, bolstering confidence and leadership skills, and teaching youth the importance of teamwork. Specifically geared towards programming related to nutrition and fitness. Link takes you directly to funding available for Pennsylvania The program provides the opportunity to develop skills, progress in golf and have fun while establishing a life-long interest in the game. There is also a matching grants program, funded by the USGA, that is available to help with the costs associated with additional programming. The funds can be used for equipment, instruction, course and driving range access and the national registration fee (per girl $10). The goal of the NFL Grassroots Program is to provide non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations with financial and technical assistance to improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of local football fields. Grants in various categories from cash grants to track renovation.

Triadvocates Press P.O. Box 336 Springfield, PA 19064-0336 Phone: 610-544-6927 Eax: 610-328-2805 Email: [email protected] www.ups.com

www.ussoccerfoundation.org

http://www.finishline.com/store/ corporate_info/youthfoundation.jsp

http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/ commitment/champions.aspx http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/HYFund/list.asp Click on this link for more information. http://www.lpga.com/content_3.aspx?mi d=7&pid=8

http://www.lisc.org/whatwedo/programs /nfl/rfp.shtml

http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jht ml?page=26

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USGA Tee Level Clinic Matching Grant from Hook a Kid on Golf

USTA Adopt-a-Court Grant Program Pew Charitable Trust

Target Stores and Tiger Woods Foundation

UPS Foundation Community Investment Grants U.S. Soccer Foundation

Woman’s Sports Foundation – GoGirl Grant Program

Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation American Water Charitable Foundation North Suburban Chamber of Commerce Rapides Foundation

The USGA provides matching grants to the National Alliance for Youth Sports program Hook a Kid on Golf. You must be a participating Hook a Kid on Golf site. To participate in Hook a Kid on Golf, go to their website or call. Upon registration ask about the grant program. For courts in desperate need of repair with limited resources. May Deadline. Provides grants in a number of program areas including environment, culture, and health and human services. Provides Start Something Scholarships for youth to use for summer camps, music lessons, sports entertainment, travel expenses, and so on. Programs enrollment forms are available at Target Stores. Allocates dollars to UPS region offices to invest in their communities.

www.hookakidongolf.org 1-800-729-2057

The goal of the grantmaking program for fiscal year 2005 is to focus funding on those programs or projects that develop players, referees, and coaches with special emphasis on the economically disadvantaged in urban areas. The foundation’s grants program is open to anyone with a soccer-specific program or project that benefits a not-for-profit purpose and meets the established focus for the 2005 grant cycle. The GoGirlGo! Grant and Education Program is dedicated to the development and funding of girls’ sports/physical activity programs that combine athletic instruction and programming with the delivery or educational information aimed at reducing risk behaviors. Funds for constructing dek hockey courts

www.ussoccerfoundation.org

Funding for Nature Play Playgrounds

www.amwater.com/corporateresponsibil ity/Charitable-Foundation 412-761-2113

Walking Trail Mini Grant

www.rapidesfoundation.org

usta.com/communitytennis/custom.sps?i Type=950&icustompageid=2520 www.pewtrusts.com/grants

www.startsomething.target.com/info/ind ex.asp

www.ups.com

www.womanssportsfoundation.org

pittsburghpenguinsfoundation.org

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OTHER FUNDING SOURCES – GRANTS, DONATIONS, SPONSORSHIPS FUNDING Mantis Awards for Community & Youth Gardens National Tree Trust Kaboom – Playground Grant NRG Outdoors NO Child Left Inside Act After School Archery Program Saucony Run for Good Hooked on Hydroponics Healthy Sprouts Awards Youth Garden Grants Program For the Good of the Game Grants Baseball Tomorrow Fund Head Start Body Start Play Space Grant United States Golf Association Grants SNAG – Start New at Golf – Equipment Annie’s Homegrown Garden Grants Together We Play Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation Grants USA Football Equipment Grant United States Soccer Foundation Program & Field Grants Dick’s Sporting Goods Sponsorships & Donations US Paralympics Grants Achieve Healthy Communities Urban Revitalization & Livable Communities Act The Urban Park & Recreation Recovery Program Tennis in the Parks Sticks for Kids Grow Your Park Grant The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation Take Me Fishing Good Sports Moms Team Nature Explore Classroom

Contact Information www.kidsgardening.com/grants/mantis.asp www.nationaltreetrust.com www.kaboom.org www.nrgoutdoors.org www.cbf.org/site www.afterschoolarchery.com www.sauconyrunforgood.com www.kidsgardening.com/grants/HOH.asp www.kidsgardening.com/grants/healthysprouts.asp www.kidsgardening.com/YGG.asp www.usga.org www.baseballtomorrowfund.com www.aahperd.org/headstartbodystart www.usga.org/ www.snagpros.com www.annies.com/grants_for_gardens www.playlsi/Together-We-Play www.ripkenfoundation.org/grants/grant www2.usafootball.com/grants www.ussoccerfoundation.org/grants dickssportinggoods.sponsorport.com www.teamusa.org www.achievecommunities.org www.govtrack.us http://www.NPS.GOV/UPARR www.usta.com/About-USTA/Tennis-in-the-Parks/Tennis_In_The_Parks www.golf2020.com/initiatives/sticks-for-kids.aspx www.nrpa.org/garden www.rbff.org www.takemefishing.org www.goodsports.org/equipment/apply/ www.momsteam.com/grants www.natureexplore.org or 1-888-908-8733

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